FOLLOW TO THE END
ORA
But we need to get to Carcerem.
GALEN
Bad idea. Oh, bad, bad, bad, bad
idea.
ORA
If there’s a spell keeping the
Guardians trapped, maybe it’s like
the bell! All It needs is an ally
to pour magic into the gate door,
then we could open It.
GALEN
Yeah, Maybe. And, and, and do you
think the Dark Ones sat around and
did nothing? They have to, they
have to be watching Carcerem to
keep the Guardians contained and
others out. Like a prison. They’ll
defend It in lots of terrible ways.
Claws that can’t be seen. Words
that drive one to madness. Corpses
fighting trespassers. Who knows?!
Definitely that last one.
KEVIN
We did watch the dead rise and
attack people at Dawnwallow.
GALEN
There! There See?! One of them
specialized in undead magic.
Normally, it’s a high level spell
to bring back a single person as a
puppet, but we have seen they can
easily bring back dozens. They’re
probably guarding Carcerem.
FORMOSA
There were hundreds of corpses
raised at Dawnwallow. Maybe
thousands.
GALEN
The well that has been deepened
that much? Well, I’m not seasoning
myself up and climbing into the
monster’s mouth. Absolutely not.
Not going to Carcerem.
ORA
Could you at least point It out on
a map?
GALEN
I’m...I’m free, right? No chains.
No enchanted metal encircling my
neck. Yes... yes I’m free. Ha. Then
why stay here and have a pointless
conversation?
ORA
Oh...Wait, Galen!
GALEN
It’s been a long time, Emilian.
ELIZABETH
I’m so sorry. We didn’t think to
cover him.
GALEN
No. No, it’s... It’s good that I
got to see him one last time. My
captor. My friend.
May I have some time alone with
him?
ORA
Of course.
SPIRIT
(Whinnies)
ORA
You doing okay, girl?
FORMOSA
That was a lot to take in. Magical
rules. Guardians. Hiding in fear
for years, maybe in plain site.
ELIZABETH
Do you think he’d allow me to
transcribe his words? We need to
preserve this knowledge.
KEVIN
The Dark Guardians seem like the
type who’d come after you if they
found out you spread information
about them.
ELIZABETH
Don’t worry, I have my ways.
ORA
Has anyone else thought about how
Galen’s story fits into the
Prophecy?
KEVIN
Perhaps a little, but I couldn’t
really figure It out.
ORA
Surviving death, using fire magic,
and guarding people against the
darkness – that all fits in with
the Prophecy. And there are lines
about Carcerem.
ELIZABETH
I agree. There’s too much in common
for It to be a simple coincidence.
ORA
Maybe the Chosen One is whoever
releases the trapped Guardians. The
Prophecy could be about saving the
Guardians so they can save the
land.
FORMOSA
That does make sense.
KARRAS
(Grunts)
ORA
We need to convince Galen to lead
us to Carcerem. Somehow.
KEVIN
It sounds like Carcerem is defended
by the Dark Guardians. That army of
risen is probably under their
control; So you know it’s a big
army. Why would we run towards the
people we barely escaped from?
ORA
I can’t ignore a chance to make
things better.
KEVIN
And if you’re wrong, you die.
Excuse me if I don’t like those
odds.
ORA
They’re still better odds than
we’ve had in a long time.
KEVIN
Ugh, you’re hopeless. Isten, you
know better than any of us what
we’re up against, what do you
think?
Isten? Isten?
ISTEN
...Yes.
ORA
Hey...Are you okay? You haven’t
talked since we met Galen.
ISTEN
...Yes.
ORA
Isten?
ISTEN
Hard. To keep. Myself. Together.
KEVIN
Do you still feel like you’re
disappearing?
ISTEN
...Yes.
KARRAS
Disappearing? What?
KEVIN
The night Ora worked on the
Prophecy, Isten told me he felt
like he was fading away.
KARRAS
He talked to you, not me?
KEVIN
Sometimes it’s easier to talk to
someone you don’t care about. You
don’t worry you’ll hurt them.
KARRAS
(grunts)
ISTEN
And the urge. To walk. To go there.
It’s difficult to resist.
ORA
To go where?
It’s a physical location?
ISTEN
Yes.
ORA
Maybe it’s Carcerem! Galen did say
that the dead are probably guarding
the city. If you know where to go,
then we can find It.
ELIZABETH
We shouldn’t let him lead us.
ORA
Are you still worried that Isten
might betray us? It’s been days, he
clearly isn’t being controlled.
ELIZABETH
He’s barely keeping his own mind
now. What do you think will happen
if he starts following what the
magic commands? If he leads us to
Carcerem, the Isten you know may
finish “fading away.”
ORA
But maybe-
KARRAS
No.
ORA
Karras?
KARRAS
Don’t use him.
ORA
I know that...
KEVIN
ORA!
ORA
What?!
KEVIN
Stop...
ORA
You’re right. We’ll figure out
another way to get to Carcerem.
GALEN
Uhhh....Friends who probably aren’t
only in my mind, are you still
there? You can come back. I made
tea. The leaves weren’t that
rotten.
I’m really, really outside. Oh, is
that a horse? It has been so very
long since I’ve seen an animal that
wasn’t a rat.
ORA
Her name’s Spirit. Do you want to
pet her?
GALEN
Ummm...Might be too much right now.
It’s been such a big day. Maybe
tomorrow. You’ll stay, right? I
know you’re thinking of going, but
surely you’ve re-thought that,
right?
ORA
We can stay for awhile, but we do
want to go to Carcerem soon. I hope
you’ll reconsider and take us
there.
GALEN
Nope.
But where are my manners? Come in,
come in. There’s not-rotted tea
waiting.
Here, here, help your self.
ORA
Oh, thanks Galen. It
smells...uhm...uh...smelly.
Galen, what would you do if you
found out someone had magic? Would
you train them?
GALEN
Not a Dark One, right?
ORA
Not a Dark One. Someone who never
even heard of Guardians before
today.
KEVIN
Subtle.
GALEN
Then yes, I’d train them. Nothing
beyond simple spells, obviously.
Small, small powers. Just enough to
control outbursts. Don’t want to
attract attention.
ORA
How long would It take to teach
them?
GALEN
Uhhhh...a few years? Probably.
ORA
Years?!
GALEN
Magic remakes the world. Did you
all forget? Of course It takes a
long time to learn. Longer if we
wanted to get into high levels, but
that’s definitely a no. No no no
no.
Ugh! This tea is awful, who made
It?
ORA
What if the person only wanted to
pour their magic into an object?
Like you did with the bell.
GALEN
Oh, oh that’s easy. You concentrate
on the desire and the need, if you
feel strongly enough, It will work.
ORA
Oh, so even someone without
training could someone possibly
open Carcerem’s gate?
GALEN
That again? That’s annoying talk.
Let’s discuss something better. Oh,
what’s everyone’s names? I’ve
started to give you nicknames in
the head, but I don’t think Muscled
Meanie and Ancient Woman would like
those titles if I said them out
loud. Oh, did I say them out loud.
I didn’t, right?
ORA
I’m sorry we didn’t introduce
ourselves sooner. I’m Ora.
KEVIN
Kevin. Please never tell me my
nickname.
FORMOSA
I’m Formosa. It’s nice to meet you.
KARRAS
Karras.
ELIZABETH
You can call me Elizabeth. I was
hoping you’d give me permission to
document what we’ve talked about.
If you don’t mind, I have more
questions.
ORA
And that’s Isten.
GALEN
He’s so quiet, hasn’t said a word.
Oh no, can he... can he not speak?
Oh no!
(hushed)
Is It... is It rude to ask if he
can’t speak?
ISTEN
...Greetings.
GALEN
Hmm. Hmmm. Why do I get a bad
feeling from him?
ORA
Don’t worry, Isten’s a friend.
GALEN
Hmm.
He’s dead! He’s dead and he’s
moving! You brought one of Danika’s
undead puppets into my home!
ORA
Woah, woah, woah. We can explain!
GALEN
Get out! Get out!!
ELIZABETH
He was dying when the spell
happened. He’s not completely bound
by the magic.
GALEN
Leave! NOW!
ORA
He can be trusted. He defended us
from the other dead!
GALEN
I don’t care! I don’t care! You
brought this thing into my home.
Leave now or I’ll make you leave!
ORA
We’re leaving! We’re laving. Don’t
do anything rash!
GALEN
Because you freed me, I’m not going
to hurt you. But never come here
again. Never.
KARRAS
Should we fight It?
FORMOSA
He seemed scared enough he would
burn everything to keep Isten away.
ORA
Let’s get some distance before he
attacks us.
KEVIN
What now?
ORA
We find Carcerem.
(MORE)
KEVIN
That was madness even assuming you
had magic and learn how to control
It. But without basic training at
all, going there would be suicide.
ORA
Galen said that pouring magic into
an object is based on need, I can
do that even without training. And
if all the spell needs is an ally
to activate It, then we should be
able to do It.
KEVIN
(Laughing)
If these all-powerful Guardians
haven’t figured It out, what makes
you think we can even open the
gates?
ORA
Maybe no one on the outside has
tried. Everything connects back to
the Prophecy and the Prophecy leads
to Carcerem. And if we don’t try,
how many more people will they
kill?
KEVIN
Nice words and all, but that
doesn’t mean we can suddenly take
them on.
ORA
We won’t try to fight them head-tohead,
we’ll simply run to the gate
and try to open It before they
overwhelm us.
KEVIN
(sarcastic)
Oh...“Simply.” Great plan.
ORA
Or come up with a real plan when we
get there!
KEVIN
Don’t get mad at me!! I’m just
thinking rationally. You’re
just...hoping everything will be
fine!
KEVIN (CONT'D)
Just because you’re in the “right”
doesn’t automatically mean it’ll
all work out!
ORA
The gate will open Kevin, the gate
will open... what’s with all the
negativity?
KEVIN
Negativity?! You’re just denying
reality!!
ELIZABETH
STOP! Both of you!
SPIRIT
(Whinnies)
ELIZABETH
Look, without Galen’s help or
following Isten, how do we even
find Carcerem?
ORA
We could return to Dawnwallow; look
for tracks to follow the dead.
FORMOSA
With all the blood spilled, It has
to be overrun by Lusus Naturae. And
the forest could erase the tracks.
ISTEN
I will take you. To Carcerem.
KARRAS
No.
ISTEN
Let me take you.
KARRAS
No.
ORA
Karras is right, it’s not worth the
risk. And we don’t even know if the
direction your sensing would lead
us to Carcerem.
ISTEN
Dead army’s there. I’m dead and
want to go there. It’s Carcerem.
KARRAS
No.
ISTEN
I’m fading. I know It. Even if I
don’t go, I’ll disappear. Let me do
one good thing. Let me take you.
KARRAS
You’ll die.
ISTEN
I’m already dead.
KARRAS
This isn’t fair. It just isn't
fair.
ISTEN
When have I been fair?
KEVIN
Are you sure you want to do this,
Isten?
ISTEN
Yes.
ORA
If we go, we might not survive
this. Not just Isten, all of us.
We’re taking a gamble that the
Prophecy is about letting the
Guardians out and that my magic can
open the door. If we’re wrong...
FORMOSA
I joined you because I was looking
for hope. This is It. I’m going.
ELIZABETH
I may never get another chance to
learn what happened. If you’ll have
me, I’m with you.
KARRAS
We’ll fight those that turned Isten
to this?
ORA
I think so.
KARRAS
I’ll go.
KEVIN
Well, I’m in. Someone has to
protect you all. At least one of us
has to make sure we have a plan.
Plus, I’ve always wanted to see a
big door...
ISTEN
This way.
ORA
You all go ahead, I want to check
Spirit’s hooves. Kevin, why don’t
you help me?
FORMOSA
We could wait.
ORA
Go. This won’t take long.
SPIRIT
(Blows)
KEVIN
Spirit’s fine.
ORA
I needed a moment to talk to you
alone. I know you don’t agree with
us going to Carcerem.
KEVIN
It’s not that I don’t want...
ORA
I’m not mad, I just think...you
should leave. Go back to the
village or find another settlement.
KEVIN
Why?! Do you not trust me to have
your back? Do you think I’ll be
that useless in a fight? Just
because...
ORA
That’s not It. Not at all. I...need
you to leave because I couldn’t
bear It if anything happened to
you.
(MORE)
ORA (CONT'D)
After Godrick died, I don’t think I
could have survived without you;
literally and figuratively. You
helped me escape from a Lusus
Naturae, you made me laugh no
matter how deeply I began to hate
myself, you trusted me enough to
follow my ideas no matter how much
you complained.
KEVIN
That’s not-
ORA
And that’s why I couldn’t live with
myself if you died following me.
With everyone else, at least I know
they have their own reasons for
going, but if you go It would only
be because you trust me. Like
Godrick did. Please Kevin, please
leave me.
KEVIN
Godrick wasn’t your fault.
ORA
Then what about Dawnwallow? Did my
magic summon the Dark Guardians?
(chuckle)
People keep dying around me, I
might as well bring that to our
enemies, right?
KEVIN
(sigh)
You’re not to blame. You haven’t
done anything wrong. You surround
yourself with the crazy and the
brave, people who choose the
dangerous path. They aren’t
marching along behind you, they’re
by your side.
ORA
That doesn’t matter, what matters
is that you live. I need you to
live.
KEVIN
I’ve thought about leaving before.
I never wanted an adventure, and I
want to die even less.
KEVIN (CONT'D)
Each time we’ve gone somewhere new
I’ve wondered if It was finally
time to part ways.
ORA
Then-
KEVIN
But I won’t go. And it’s not
because I trust you. In fact, it’s
because I don’t trust you. I know
you well enough that you’ll happily
throw your life away if you think
it’ll do a little bit of good.
Someone sane needs to stay by your
side to pull you out of the fire.
ORA
Kevin.
KEVIN
You’re going with a group where
everyone believes in something more
than their own lives. You all
desperately need a selfish person
who’ll occasionally force you to
consider reality.
ORA
I don’t know if we’ll survive.
KEVIN
Hasn’t It always been that way?
Sorry Ora, you’re stuck with me.
And whatever happens, it’s my
decision, not yours.
FORMOSA
Is everything alright?
KEVIN
We’re fine! We’re coming!
KEVIN (CONT'D)
Right?..... Let’s go.
ORA
I’m not holding your hand...
KEVIN
Ugh! Well, I don’t want to hold
yours either. I thought It could
have been a nice moment, but you
ruined It!
ORA
Hehehe. Worth It.
SCENE BRAKE
ORA
How’s Isten doing?
KEVIN
It’s getting harder to get him to
respond. And when we were on watch
together last night I noticed he
doesn’t blink anymore.
KARRAS
(grunts)
ORA
I hope we reach Carcerem soon.
Maybe the True Guardians can help
him.
FORMOSA
Well... I mean, we have been
steadily ascending since yesterday
and the soil is a reddish color
I’ve never seen before. You said
Carcerem was atop a red mountain,
right?
ORA
Then why didn’t we see a red
mountain before apparently we
started climbing It?
FORMOSA
The forest can conceal as well as
change.
ELIZABETH
Or magic. Perhaps the Guardians hid
their home which is why no one goes
there.
ISTEN
...close.
ORA
We’re getting close?
ISTEN
Close enough. A new
desire...rising.
KEVIN
Are you trying to sound creepy?
ELIZABETH
Karras.
ISTEN
To alert them to intruders. To you.
Then...to kill you.
KEVIN
Oh. So you are trying to sound
creepy.
ORA
Can you fight that urge?
ISTEN
For now. Getting harder.
ORA
Elizabeth, keep your lantern ready.
If Isten turns on us we can keep
him away.
ISTEN
No, won’t stop me from alerting
them.
FORMOSA
We could gag you.
ISTEN
No...No gag would work. Only...true
death.
KARRAS
No.
ISTEN
Even if you ripped out my tongue, I
could alert them.
KEVIN
Damn magic.
ISTEN
Before I lose myself, you must
destroy me.
KARRAS
No.
(MORE)
ISTEN
Karras. You must.
ORA
What if we stopped having you lead
us to Carcerem? You and Karras
could go in the opposite direction;
that might stop the urges.
ISTEN
What is done can’t be undone. The
desire will only grow. You must end
me.
ORA
There has to be a way.
ISTEN
It’s... Its’s difficult to pay
attention even now when discussing
my demise. I don’t know how much
longer I can keep my mind. Minutes?
Hours? But no more than that, no
matter what anyone does.
ELIZABETH
We should listen to him. I’m
surprised he resisted being
completely under the magic’s
control for this long.
KARRAS
No one is killing Isten.
ISTEN
Carcerem is straight ahead and up
the mountain. Keep going and you’ll
reach It.
ORA
Don’t talk like you won’t be here.
You can beat this, Isten. You’re
the Chosen One. I know you are.
ISTEN
Perhaps the Chosen One needs to
die.
KARRAS
No.
ISTEN
Karras, you saved my life. Gave me
a purpose.
ISTEN (CONT'D)
I’ve been wrong about so much, but
never for trusting in you. Let me
be the man you wanted me to be. Let
me die before I betray you again.
KARRAS
Don’t do this.
ISTEN
It’s harder to think. Like a veil
covering my thoughts. I don’t have
much time.
KARRAS
(Crying)
No....
ISTEN
Karras, you have to end me.
KARRAS
(sobbing)
Don’t. No, please don’t.
ISTEN
(crying)
I need you. I’ve always needed you.
Please kill me.
KARRAS
(Sobbing)
ISTEN
I...I...It’s calling...
I have...
I...
ORA
Isten, try to resist.
ELIZABETH
I don’t think he can understand
anymore.
ORA
This can’t be. Isten? Isten?
ELIZABETH
Don’t make this harder.
Karras, you know what you have to
do.
KEVIN
Goodbye, Isten. Goodbye, my friend.
ISTEN
(at a distance)
I... UGh!
KARRAS
(Sobs)
FORMOSA
We are born in darkness and to
darkness we return. May he find
peace.
I’m so sorry, Karras.
KARRAS
I’ll dig his grave.
KEVIN
I’ll help.
FORMOSA
So will I.
ORA
We’ll all help.
SCENE BRAKE
ORA
Carcerem. We’re finally here.
ELIZABETH
It’s more beautiful than I ever
imagined.
FORMOSA
And well guarded.
KEVIN
I thought calling the dead an
“army” was a figure of speech....
“army” doesn’t do It justice. And
there are so many dead animals and
Lusus Naturae, too.
ORA
That’s not the only issue. We’re
close, but it’s uphill and we’ll
have to stick to the road because
of the cliffs on either side.
Well... At least it’s a wide path,
but the incline is going to make
fighting difficult.
KARRAS
Doesn’t matter.
KEVIN
Are the dead going to find us?
There are so many of them.
FORMOSA
The forest has taken an interest in
us. While we stay in the trees, we
may be safe...
ELIZABETH
But the risen have cut down all the
trees between here and the gate.
KEVIN
Why are the risen here? Why now?
ORA
The bigger question is, how are we
going to get at that gate without
joining their ranks?
END OF EPISODE 26