​
BLOOD RIOT
ANNOUNCER
The order of introductions has been
chosen at random. You, in the
red...
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
You are addressing my master,
Champion Zelenne. He wears red
to...
ANNOUNCER
Yes, yes, yes. Save It for the
podium. You have first intro. Wait
here till you’re called.
CROWD
(Cheers)
ANNOUNCER
WELCOME BACK!!
I trust you are all rested from
this afternoon’s festivities. We
saw some incredible victories. Some
horrifying defeats, and one utterly
cowardly failure.
CROWD
(Booing)
ANNOUNCER
BUT! We’ve found ourselves with
four champions who have won their
rounds, and not run away!!
So...who’s ready for the final
round?
CROWD
(Cheer)
ANNOUNCER
As am I! The final round is unlike
any other. It’s not merely a
pitting of man against beast. It is
not a simple contest of submissionbased,
hand-to-hand combat...
...and it’s certainly not a battle
of wits on a chessboard. This
round, ladies and gentlemen, is the
most deadly, the most unforgiving,
the most devastating form of
ultimate combat in existence.
ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
To take place here, in the chosen
arena, surrounded by the dead
bodies of the fallen false prophets
and the defeated abominations of
the forest. Look upon the dead!
Will your champion soon join them?
This...
...is BLOOD...RIOT!
CROWD
(Cheer)
ANNOUNCER
NOW!! To meet the champions! First,
the followers of Zelenne!
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
To those of you who cheer, you have
chosen the righteous path! We are
the followers of the true prophet
Zelenne. Abandoned in the forest as
a child, and raised by wisps, he
has seen more in his young life
then all the history books. He
learned to fight by surviving the
Lusus Naturae. He has spoken to
magic itself, looked in its eyes,
and It has run away scared. We have
seen firsthand his stoicism, his
grace, and his power.
ZELENNE
I am Zelenne, and I am the Chosen
One!
CROWD
(Cheer)
SCENE BRAKE
KEVIN
Formosa. What’s wrong?
KARRAS
She’s sad.
KEVIN
Well...that explains It, I guess.
Who else is up for a game of
obvious statements?
ORA
Kevin, don’t.
(MORE)
KEVIN
Sorry.
FORMOSA
Why did we do that?
KARRAS
Do that?
FORMOSA
We just...my whole life I have
known that they’re all the same.
That they all exist just to
terrorize and destroy us. But, you
saw that thing, right? You all saw
It!
ORA
Yes. We saw.
KARRAS
I saw It, Formosa.
FORMOSA
It didn’t want anything to do with
me. It was scared! My father...he
was wrong.
ORA
I know...
FORMOSA
I have spent my life running from
them or defending against them. My
short sight was based on fear. But
these people! They caught them,
they were around them. They knew
that the Lusus Naturae needed to be
made to fight. Their ignorance was
self-inflicted. It was based on
superiority. And we held an entire
round of this ridiculous tournament
just to slaughter them. Why? What
was the point?
KEVIN
Power...it’s always...
KARRAS
Kevin?
KEVIN
(changing the tone, trying
to cheer up Formosa)
KEVIN (CONT'D)
Look. People are horrible, it’s the
way of the world. Let’s go throw
mud at them! Would that make you
feel better? Some of those monsters
probably deserved It, too! I
mean... Ugh, Hey
KARRAS
Grrrrrr...
KEVIN
Well, that seemed unnecessary. I am
just trying to cheer Formosa up. I
don’t think being a jerk to me is
doing that.
ORA
It honestly might be.
KARRAS
See?
FORMOSA
Here.
ORA
Formosa, I... I don’t think I
should be dealing with a wisp. I’m
not exactly their favorite,
remember?
FORMOSA
Look, it’ll probably be fine.
Honestly, at this point, I’m--
KARRAS
Formosa, I have to ask you an
important question.
Would you feel better with a hug?
FORMOSA
Oh. No, Karras. That’s nice that
you’re thinking of me...
KARRAS
Okay.
ORA
Hug Kevin.
KEVIN
Wait, what?!
KARRAS
Okay.
KEVIN
He...help?
Ora...you’re such a....
FORMOSA
Ora, go. Find the Prophecies.
KEVIN
How?
FORMOSA
Use the wisp. But remember to stay
close, you can lose them if you
aren’t careful.
ORA
Wait!!
KEVIN
Wow...
FORMOSA
Shh... Come here, Come here... If
we don’t even get the Prophecies,
then this really was all for
nothing.
ORA
Fine.
KEVIN
(wheezing)
Wh--wait! Okay. Okay buddy, that’s -
-
ORA
Karras, I think he might need to
breath.
KARRAS
Oh... Oh.
KEVIN
Ora...Ora, wait. Let me go with
you. I know how important these
Prophecies are to you. I want to
help.
KARRAS
I’ll stay with Formosa.
ORA
Kevin...
KEVIN
Ow!...I’m just a little tender.
ORA
I think It will be better to do
this alone.
KEVIN
What?! Look! I can-- Ow...
KEVIN (CONT'D)
Aw, Karras, you broke my thing! My
arm or elbow or something!
FORMOSA
(laughs a little)
But with love.
KARRAS
You did It, Kevin! She smiled!!
KEVIN
No, no no...Wait, wait, wait!! I
can’t take any more love right now.
ORA
Also, I need to keep a low profile
and one person can sneak around a
lot easier than two.
Keep an eye on him, Alright?
FORMOSA
Yeah, I will. The wisp will lead
you to the marked scroll, but don’t
lose sight of It. I have slowed It
down, but that’s all.
ORA
Right.
FORMOSA
Ready?
ORA
Ready.
KEVIN
Just... be careful.
ORA
I will.
KEVIN
Why do I never believe her when she
says that?
SCENE BRAKE
NARCIRAC
I am Narcirac, and I am the only
Chosen One!
CROWD
(Cheers)
ANNOUNCER
Take your place and pick up your
weapon.
And now for your final champion,
meet the followers of Isten!
CROWD
(Cheer)
ANNOUNCER
Isten and his followers?
ISTEN
(laughs)
Followers? What sort of prophet
would I be if I needed followers to
exalt me and tell me I’m great?
ANNOUNCER
I don’t know... The regular kind of
prophet, I guess.
ISTEN
Well, all the regular ones seem to
be dead...or about to be...
ANNOUNCER
Whatever, do what you want. I get
paid either way!
ISTEN
Friends!
CROWD
(Cheer)
ISTEN
I present myself before you: not
humbly, for humility is for those
who don’t believe in their true
abilities. It is a crutch to lean
on in case of failure. I have no
such need for a crutch.
SPECTATOR #5
Your awful! Keep Quiet!!
ISTEN
A simple man, but a brilliant
one...a kind man, but a strong
one...an intractable man, but a
limber one...a poor man...but a
prophet!
SPECTATOR #1
Stop him!!
ISTEN
A Chosen One must not simply prove
themself in the field of combat,
no! They must prove themselves with
their mind! These other champions
have claimed to be the voice of the
people. To speak for the good in
the world, yet not a single one of
them spoke for themselves.
ZEALOT #4
That mouth will help you to your
end!
SPECTATOR #4
Let him speak, you Zealot freak!
ISTEN
A voice of the people with the fear
to speak for themselves?! That is
no hero, no champion, no Chosen
One!
ZEALOT #3
NO ONE HAS CHOSEN YOU!
ISTEN
I am the only voice! The one true
Chosen One!!
CROWD
(Cheers and Boos)
(MORE)
ANNOUNCER
Isten, ladies and gentlemen!
Take your place and pick up your
weapons!
All fighters! Prepare for battle!
SCENE TRANSITION
LINUS
Did any of that make any sense at
all?
HAL
If you’re an intellectual like me,
you appreciate the nuance and brain
power that logic requires.
ANN
Nobody cares.
LINUS
I dunno. Some of the people seem to
like It
ANN
It’s only interesting to anybody so
painfully pedantic that they like
to hear themselves talk.
HAL
A low IQ isn’t your fault, Ann, but
you really shouldn’t hold that
disadvantage against deep thinkers
like myself and Isten.
ANN
Here, open that to any page and
start reading.
HAL
Ah, yes, a book. Haha, of corse.
Chapter Six...Change Intermitten--
ANN
This book doesn’t have any
chapters.
HAL
You see that? That’s what we call
‘ad hominem.’ It’s an attack - not
on my argument’s merits - but on me
as a person. And it’s the lowest,
most base form of debate, Linus.
HAL (CONT'D)
One only resorts to such unbecoming
as...
ANN
Asking you to read isn’t a personal
attack. It just made you feel
stupid.
HAL
As only an ad hominem could!
LINUS
I wish Vorlauf were here. He
usually has a good handle on big
questions like ‘what’s ad hominem
mean’ and ‘should we fight this guy
we just met.’
HAL
Did he leave?
ANN
Yeah, he hates the Riot as a sport.
HAL
Really? That’s strange, he never
mentioned anything about that.
ANN
If you ever listened instead of
focusing all of your stupid energy
on being a logic dorbel you’d know
that.
HAL
Uh...
ANN
That was an ad hominem.
SCENE BRAKE
ORA
Come on...
In here?
VORLAUF
Oh, hello.
ORA
Ah!
(MORE)
VORLAUF
...were you looking for something?
ORA
Just...my Prophecy. It was stolen.
VORLAUF
That’s funny. I, too, thought the
Prophecies would be here....
ORA
You’re right...
You kill a wisp for that ring?
VORLAUF
Oh, you know a thing or two don’t
you? But to answer your question,
of course not.
ORA
(Gasp)No...
VORLAUF
But, I’m certainly not against such
a thing.
ORA
You’re...not gonna let me have my
Prophecy are you?
VORLAUF
(Laughs)
Oh, absolutely. Sure! Why not?
ORA
You don’t believe It was stolen, do
you?
VORLAUF
Funny enough, that is the part I
believe the most.
Don’t you find It a bit curious?
How we keep running into one
another?
ORA
I don’t think we’ve met.
VORLAUF
(chuckles)
Don’t insult me, I’m sure we have
not officially met, but have been
acquainted? Crossed paths? Shared
experiences?
VORLAUF (CONT'D)
Shadow Run is one thing...It would
seem improbable. But somehow I
feel...
Of course. It is you.
ORA
I really don’t know what you mean.
I don’t think we’ve ever seen each
other before...
VORLAUF
The fire...the small house. I was
so sure we had the right person,
but then something happened. You
remember, don’t you?
ORA
I wasn’t there. I’ve never met you.
VORLAUF
Sure you were. When you witness
magic, It tends to stay with you. I
mean, I should know, I’ve witnessed
that evil numerous times. But, that
day, the magic...there was a girl
who was quite good in battle.
And you say that wasn’t you?
ORA
I’m telling you. I’ve never met
you. I’ve never seen magic. It’s a
myth. Now, I’m gonna just grab my
Prophecy and leave, if that’s
alright with you.
VORLAUF
Okay, maybe you’re not lying.
Because even if that wasn’t you,
this Prophecy you’re after? I know
you stole It from a bar.
ORA
Alright. You got me. I stole a
piece of paper from a bar. Ya’ got
me. What’s the punishment for that?
VORLAUF
I don’t care about that anymore!
I’m after the magic. Somebody
performed magic. My people believe
we eliminated that magic. But some
of us know how ridiculous that
is...don’t we?
ORA
So what do you want from me?
VORLAUF
Magic...where is the magic? It is a
threat to our society and our
livelihood.
ORA
I. Don’t. Know.
VORLAUF
I don’t believe you.
ORA
He’s dead.
VORLAUF
Ballocks.
ORA
The son of the family you
slaughtered? It was him...and he’s
dead.
VORLAUF
Really?
ORA
Yes. And you murdered him, too.
Now, give me my Prophecy.
VORLAUF
What was the point of this Prophecy
obsession if the person you thought
It was about has been dead?
ORA
You’re as bad as Isten with your
talking and talking.
VORLAUF
Let me see your eyes...
ORA
Get away from me.
VORLAUF
I’d watch yourself. I’m a Vigile
and a damn good one. I know you had
a wisp lead you to your Prophecy.
I knew I’d seen you before. I don’t
just keep running into innocent
people where magic shows up.
(MORE)
ORA
So what? Who cares if magic exists?
What’s wrong with something greater
than what we see?
VORLAUF
Order. Stability. Magic is too
powerful for mere mortals. It
corrupts and leads to tyranny. I
have seen It! The only way to keep
the world safe for all living
beings to exist in a harmony is to
stop that magic that only exists to
upend and destroy.
So, if I seem a bit persistent,
forgive me.
ORA
I don’t forgive you.
VORLAUF
And I don’t care.
ORA
If you don’t think the Vigiles only
exist to keep the masses powerless,
oppressed and desperate at the
whims of the powerful few then you
doesn’t really know what tyranny
means. I’m leaving.
VORLAUF
Ugh!
ORA
Let go of me!
VORLAUF
Oof!! You stupid little fool.
ORA
Fool?
VORLAUF
The Prophecies? Only a fool would
live their lives in service of a
mystery person who doesn’t even
exist.
ORA
Believing in people’s better nature
prevailing isn’t foolish, mister...
ORA (CONT'D)
I just realized I don’t even know
your name. .
Vorlauf’s pride is slightly wounded. He is a proud man.
VORLAUF
The name is Vorlauf. But, that
doesn’t matter much now, does
It...Ora.
ORA
How did you....
SCENE BRAKE
ZELENNE
You are nothing! You will pay for
your hubris!
ISTEN
And they say I talk a lot.
NARCIRAC
Get off!
LYANORA
Your time has come!
NARCIRAC
No! Wait!!
AAHHHH!!
ISTEN
Seems like you got lucky, Zelenne.
One down and you did nothing but
trip over your own feet.
ZELENNE
You insult me. I survive because It
is my destiny.
LYANORA
Your destiny is to serve me or die.
ZELENNE
You have no honor. To kill a person
you did not defeat yourself.
LYANORA
If anyone has no honor It is Isten.
ZELENNE
Agreed! He does not believe in
anything!
ISTEN
Wrong. I just don’t believe in you
and the worlds you have made up!
LYANORA
You have dropped your weapon! Let
go mine and take your defeat!
ISTEN
Make me...
ZELENNE
With pleasure.
ISTEN
Shit...
LYANORA
Oof!
ZELENNE
AAAAAA
ISTEN
HA!
LYANORA
AAAAAAHHHH!! My leg!! You cut off
my leg!! (Screaming)
ISTEN
Relax, technically it’s still
there, you just can’t really wa...
ZELENNE
And I say with pleasure. Die, you
enemy of the land!
ISTEN
(Choking)
ZELENNE
Come on...
SCENE BRAKE
VORLAUF
Aaagghhh!!!
ORA
Oh sorry...did that hurt?
VORLAUF
Not at all.
You do have some skills...I will
give you that.
ORA
So...do... Oof!
That was a dirty trick...
VORLAUF
No such thing.
ORA
Look, just hand over the Prophecies
and you can go on doing whatever
your thing is... UGH!
...terrorizing innocent civilians,
I believe?
VORLAUF
Protecting the people? Sure, I’ll
get back to that.
VORLAUF (CONT'D)
But, not before I protect them from
you.
ORA
That set on losing, are you? Happy
to oblige.
VORLAUF
Ugh, I am tired of this.
ORA
Ahhhh.....
VORLAUF
It’s over.
ORA
Oof!!
VORLAUF
If It makes you feel better, you’re
not bad in a fight. But you protect
magic and that is bad for the
world.
ORA
You can’t do this forever. All
tyranny ends. If it’s not you, then
the next, replaceable fool they
hire to replace you.
VORLAUF
Well that may be...but what you
call tyranny, I call equality. You
might have learned that...but now
it’s time to go to sleep.
AAAAAHH!
SCENE BRAKE
ISTEN
(Choking)
ZELENNE
That’s...who did magic?! UGHGGGHHGHISTEN
You...you are the...coward.
ZELENNE
AAAAAAhhh....You will never be the
Chosen O... AAAAAAAAHH!!
ISTEN
Oh, shut up.
LYANORA
I will defeat you! You are nothing!
My body is only the start! The
Chosen One can never be defeated!
You will see me again!!
ISTEN
I’m looking forward to It.
CROWD
(Cheers)
SCENE BRAKE
ORA
I...I...I What...what...What...?
KEVIN
Ora!!
ORA
Kevin, did you... did you .... Did
you just see that?
KEVIN
No, I was around the corner and
heard an explosion. What happened?
ORA
Kevin, I-I think I maybe...
KEVIN
Wait...
This is the guy from the bar! He’s
out cold.
ORA
Kevin...I think I...
KEVIN
Don’t worry, it’s fine; he’s not
dead. Where are the Prophecies?
ORA
In there!
I’ll be keeping this ring.
I’d say thank you, but...
KEVIN
Where are they?
ORA
Look! There! Look in that chest.
KEVIN
Yessss! This must be every one that
was turned in! Maybe even past
years! Hey, grab that other side.
KEVIN (CONT'D)
One, two, THREE!
ORA
Okay, let’s go.
So, where’s Formosa?
KEVIN
Well, they were at the tent, but
Karras was trying to get her to go
to the fight.
ORA
Do you think It worked?
KEVIN
Your guess is as good as mine. But
I know they would not mind seeing
Isten taken down.
ORA
Right.
SCENE BRAKE
ANNOUNCER
We have a champion!
ISTEN
Yeah! Ha Ha Ha!.
CROWD
(Cheers)
ANNOUNCE
We finally have It! The alignment
of Prophecy and prophet has
occurred! We no longer need wonder
when such a momentous event could
occur. For we are its witness!
Our champion weathered a barrage of
challenges, powerful opponents and
dynamic obstacles. Ladies and
gentlemen...
CROWD
(Cheers)
ANNOUNCER
...Please greet and show the
requisite deference to the savior
of the land! Our one true prophet!
ISTEN
AAA!....
CROWD
(Gasps)
ANNOUNCER
The Chosen One...ISTEN!
ISTEN
I...I...What?....
CROWD
(Gasps)
ANNOUNCER
Whats going on
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
NO PROPHET BUT THE TRUE PROPHET!
FOLOWERS OF ZELENNE
NO!
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
RESTORE THE ORDER!
FOLLOWERS OF ZELENNE
FREEDOME!
ZEALOT #5
You have killed the proven Chosen
One...
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
He was a false prophet! And you!
ANNOUNCER
Wait...
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
You declared him the One...
FOLLOWERS OF ZELENNE
(Yelling)
ANNOUNCER
Wait...wait...wait, wait
wait...WAIT... You don't know how
this works...
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
Followers of Zelenne!!!
ANNOUNCER
Hold on, hold... help... HELP....
SQUIRE OF ZELENNE
We will only serve the true
prophet!
SCENE TRANSITION
LINUS
What is happening?!
FALLING SPECTATOR
AAAAAAAA
HAL
LOOK OUT!
ANN
HEY! WATCH It!
BIG ZEALOT
You fight for us for truth, or you
fight for evil!
ANN
You really don’t want to do this.
BIG ZEALOT
EVIL MUST BE REMOV....
HAL
That’s a...what...storm clouds?
ANN
It was clear skies a second ago...
LINUS
I don’t know what It is...but it’s
getting closer...
END OF EPISODE 19