CARCEREM
KARRAS
See anything, Formosa?
ELIZABETH
Dear, she can’t hear you all the
way up there.
KARRAS
Well, I’m trying to be quiet.
ELIZABETH
Well then, be quiet.
ORA
Don’t worry Karras. She’ll be just
fine.
KARRAS
But it’s so high.
KEVIN
But did you see her climb that
tree? She climbs faster than I can
run.
ORA
I’d say there was a better chance
of her tripping on the walk up here
than of her falling out of that
tree.
KARRAS
Aaaa. What was that?!
KEVIN
(Laughing)
It was just a pinecone, but It was
a nice sho...
Aaaaa...
ELIZABETH
Hush!
KEVIN
(softly)
....aaaaah!
ORA
It’s Formosa!
(MORE)
KARRAS
Are you Okay???
FORMOSA
Move!!
KEVIN
Sorry, Okay!
FORMOSA
Thank you. It’s so much easier to
get down that way.
KEVIN
Wow...just wow...
ELIZABETH
So, my dear...get a better look?
FORMOSA
uhh...it’s...
ORA
How far could you see up there?
FORMOSA
Far enough. This is going to be
harder then we feared.
KEVIN
’cause our fears weren’t exactly
easy.
FORMOSA
Well, as you’ve seen from down
here, it’s about half a mile to the
front doors. But, the whole path is
rocky mountains and random cliffs.
Now...That wide road? It goes all
the way to the door. From the tree
top, I could see It get a little
more road like just over the first
incline, about 500 feet away. Less
fallen trees on the path anyway.
It’s not flat past that, but it’s
flatter then the rest. It was
almost impossible to see the whole
thing because the entire clearing
is filled with the dead on and off
the road for about 1000 feet before
the walls and the doors.
FORMOSA (CONT'D)
And they will be able to see us
coming; there is very little cover.
ELIZABETH
They must have destroyed all the
forest around to keep It from
protecting people like us - so we
can’t get too close.
KARRAS
Okay, so we just have to get to the
dead...and then past the dead.
FORMOSA
But it’s not just people. There are
animals and Lusus Naturae. We don’t
know what they can do.
KEVIN
So, how do we get to the gate
without dying? And please don’t
answer with “luck and courage” –
that’s not a plan.
ORA
I had ideas, but this terrain ruins
them all. There’s only one easy
path to the gate and there are
cliffs on either side. It’s an
offensive nightmare.
KARRAS
And many, many undead guards.
FORMOSA
Ora and I are strong climbers,
perhaps we avoid the obvious path
and scale the cliffs. We could
sneak past their defenses.
ELIZABETH
I’m afraid I’m not a strong
climber, dear.
KARRAS
And there are most likely dead on
the cliffs, too. They would not
move as fast...but neither would
we.
KEVIN
So...?
KARRAS
Isten lead us here. We’re getting
to that gate.
ORA
We’ve come too far to give up now.
At least I don’t see any of the
living around. Maybe the Dark
Guardians left the defense to the
dead rather than sticking around
themselves.
FORMOSA
They could be hiding.
ELIZABETH
Or resting. Galen said that It
takes time to recover from using
powerful magic, and for three
people, reanimating all of
Dawnwallow must have taken a lot of
power.
ORA
I know this isn’t a great plan, but
we do have the lantern. It would
keep the dead at bay and we could
make a run for It.
KARRAS
Won’t work.
FORMOSA
I agree. Even if the dead can’t
touch us while the lantern is lit,
they could shoot arrows at us or
throw weapons. Not to mention that
there are enough of them that by
numbers alone they could force us
off a cliff or we would get crushed
under a pile of immobilized ones.
KARRAS
...and there is a living creature.
ELIZABETH
What? Where? How do you know?
KARRAS
I could see It from the forest.
Look.
It’s getting dark out, but can you
see that Lusus Naturae on the
cliff, near the gate?
ORA
Are those Bat wings and a fox’s
body... how many legs does It have?
KARRAS
It’s alive. At least It seems to
be. It does not move like the
others.
FORMOSA
It’s almost...cute.
KEVIN
It’s three times the size of a
horse! A big horse!
FORMOSA
I stand by my comment. Though why
is a living Lusus Naturae helping
the dead?
ELIZABETH
See that red rope around it’s neck?
The creature is probably enspelled
to fight intruders and tolerate the
risen.
KEVIN
When in doubt, assume magic.
ORA
Everyone down!
RISEN
(Growling)
KEVIN
That was close.
ORA
They must have dead guards
regularly patrolling the forest’s
edge. I’m surprised they aren’t in
the woods, too.
FORMOSA
I can feel the forest’s hatred of
those abominations. I assume if
they ventured in too far, they’d be
attacked.
KARRAS
Then they’d only enter for a
reason.
ORA
So let’s not give them a
reason...though...hmmm....maybe we
can use that to our advantage.
KEVIN
How?
ORA
If we could lure them into the
forest then we might be able to
lessen their numbers. And with
enough of them in the woods, we
could race to the gate with the
lantern.
ELIZABETH
A distraction is a good idea. In
fact, I might have a magical tool
that could help.
KEVIN
Have you been holding out on us?
ELIZABETH
I found a few things at Emilian’s.
It’s not my fault if you didn’t
know what you were looking at.
Ah ha!
FORMOSA
What is It?
ELIZABETH
Each of these little engraved
sticks is a spell that can release
a tremendous noise and a puff of
color. When magic was accepted,
they were used in the theater.
ORA
There has to be a dozen of them.
ELIZABETH
Thirteen to be exact.
KEVIN
Lucky.
KARRAS
Anything else in there we could
use? To make us faster? Or
stronger?
ELIZABETH
General offensive and defensive
items were widely sought after and
too expensive for me to trade in.
All of my items were so specialized
that most considered them useless,
like the lantern to keep the risen
away or a collar to prevent someone
from casting spells. Or like these
“storm sticks”, they’re so flashy
that if you used them the Vigiles
would immediately investigate. So,
very few people wanted to own them.
KEVIN
Though you had that bell that rings
if someone can use magic.
ELIZABETH
No one knows about that and I aim
to keep It that way.
ORA
How does this, this...what are they
called again?
ELIZABETH
Storm sticks.
ORA
Right, how do they work?
ELIZABETH
Be careful with that. They activate
when they’re chipped or broken.
That’s why the box is lined with
cotton.
ORA
When they’re chipped or broken?
ELIZABETH
If you snap the wood in half with
your hands or strike It with a
sword, for example. The problem is
if you’re too close when It goes
off It can hurt your ears and mess
with your vision. But thankfully,
the wood is just thick enough that
if you throw It the impact usually
chips It but not always.
KARRAS
An arrow would work.
ELIZABETH
An arrow would be perfect. So long
as you didn’t miss, it’s a pretty
small target.
KARRAS
I never miss.
ORA
If you and Elizabeth rode Spirit,
Elizabeth could throw up the spells
and you could hit them.
FORMOSA
It would be a good distraction.
KEVIN
And if you hit the spells from a
distance, then there’d be a chance
the dead wouldn’t find you right
away.
ORA
Look at you, participating in
making a plan.
KEVIN
I’m all for good plans when they
are needed. Always have been. Just
not foolhardy revenge plots where
we don’t survive.
FORMOSA
Will that dark trio be able to
track the magic from those sticks?
ELIZABETH
It’s an item imbued with magic.
Much harder to track, especially in
the forest. However, if Ora were to
cast a large spell, I have no doubt
they’d find us.
ORA
I promise I won’t do anything until
I get to the gate. On purpose
anyway...and I shouldn’t have to.
The stock sticks will distract the
guards, then I can rush in with the
lantern.
FORMOSA
I’ll go with you. I can defend you
while you use your power on the
gate.
KEVIN
And I’ll go, too.
ORA
Kevin, you could stay in the forest
and be our lookout.
KEVIN
Looking out for what? Besides, I’m
a terrible lookout, though I think
I’d be amazing at holding a
lantern...wait...does It work
during the day?
ELIZABETH
Yes. You can’t see the scope of the
light as well, but It works the
same.
KEVIN
That’s good, ‘cause going at night
seems like a much worse idea.
ORA
Day or night, it’s going to be
incredibly dangerous.
KEVIN
Not really a stranger to that any
more. Besides, it’s better for you
to have another person to watch
your back.
KARRAS
He should go with you!
ORA
He should?
FORMOSA AND ORA
Really?
KARRAS
Best not to argue with him, you’ll
get a headache and he’ll still get
his way.
KEVIN
Aw, Karras, I think that’s the
sweetest thing you’ve ever said
about me.
ORA
Are you sure, Kevin?
KEVIN
I’m sure.
ELIZABETH
Here. Take one of the storm sticks.
If you need us to come back, break
the wood and It will go off, then
Karras and I will know to come
back.
ORA
Thank you.
I guess we all know what we have to
do.
If we die, well, I want to tell you
how happy I am to have met you.
You’re all so strong and caring;
I’m lucky to call you my friends.
KEVIN
Oh so now you want to hold hands?
ORA
Shut up, Kevin.
KEVIN
We’re not going to die. Remember,
I’m selfish, I won’t allow any of
us to die.
FORMOSA
And you say Ora’s the optimist.
KEVIN
Meh, I might complain a bit-
ORA
You? Never.
KEVIN
But I’m truly honored to know you
all.
KARRAS
You are my true family.
ELIZABETH
Wooop
KEVIN
Don’t hug us too hard, Karras. We
don’t want to die before we go into
battle.
ELIZABETH
You are all, by far, some of the
most interesting people I have met.
So, of course I’m glad to be here.
FORMOSA
I will gladly put my life on the
line for any of you.
ORA
Thank you, thank you all... We
should get some rest. Tomorrow’s
going to be a long day.
SCENE BRAKE
KEVIN
Karras and Elizabeth left a while
ago, we should’ve seen their signal
by now.
ORA
Hey. Give them time.
KEVIN
Sorry, I’m just nervous.
ORA
Don’t worry Kevin, I’ll defend you.
KEVIN
I’m supposed to be the one
defending you.
FORMOSA
Hush. We should stay quiet so we
don’t miss the signal.
KEVIN
If our talking drowns It out, then
It won’t be much of a distraction,
will It?
FORMOSA
Also, I noticed that neither of you
were claiming you’d defend me.
ORA
How’s this? We all defend each
other. Deal?
RISEN
(Roars)
KEVIN
I guess we didn’t have to worry
about missing the signal.
FORMOSA
I hope Karras and Elizabeth stay
safe.
ORA
Don’t worry, Spirit will protect
them.
FORMOSA
It looks like about a third of the
guards are taking the bait.
ORA
We’ll wait for the second spell to
go off before we make a run for It.
Maybe the sound will draw off more
of them.
KEVIN
Even if another third of them
leave, there’s still so many left.
ORA
That’s why we have the lantern. And
they seem to be more spread out so
there’s less chance of us being
overwhelmed.
KEVIN
Didn’t Galen warn of more defenses
than just risen?
RISEN
(Roars)
ORA
It’s time!
Ready?
KEVIN
Sword, ready. Lantern, On.
FORMOSA
Axes, at the ready.
ORA
Alright. Go!
FORMOSA
To your left!
KEVIN
The lantern still works. Thank the
light... Oh.. Ha.
ORA
Hurry!
Some of them are throwing their
weapons at us to avoid the light!
KEVIN
Great.
Ora! I got an idea! Stop! Get
behind me!
ORA
We have to keep going!
KEVIN
I know.
FORMOSA
Ora! Do as he says.
ORA
What are you?!
KEVIN
I may not be great with a sword,
but a shield? That I can use.
FORMOSA
He’s stopping the dead with the
lantern and their weapons with the
shield; it’s a good plan.
ORA
Well, let’s keep going, fearless
leader!
KEVIN
Fearless, ha. Right.
FORMOSA
We’re halfway there!
UNKNOWN VOICE
You should give up.
ORA
Who said that?
UNKNOWN VOICE
It’s useless.
FORMOSA
Where is that coming from?!
KEVIN
It’s a spell! Don’t listen to It!
ORA
What do you mean?
UNKNOWN VOICE
You won’t win.
KEVIN
Galen said there was a spell that
could drive one to madness.
UNKNOWN VOICE
All you do is fail.
FORMOSA
It’s...It’s saying something
different to each of us...
ORA
How do you know?
FORMOSA
Do you feel you should be dead
instead of your people, too?
KEVIN
Formosa it’s not true, it’s just
your fears.
FORMOSA
What do we do?
KEVIN
Ora what is It saying to you?
UNKNOWN VOICE
You bring death and chaos wherever
you go.
ORA
Let’s...outrun It!
UNKNOWN VOICE
How many have died because of you?
FORMOSA
It’s still there.
KEVIN
Don’t listen. The more you hear the
weaker you get and the more you...
Ugh... the more you believe.
ORA
It’s not like I can put down my
sword and cover my ears.
UNKNOWN VOICE
The world would be a better place
if you had never been born.
ORA
And it’s making some good points.
KEVIN
Ora! Keep fighting!
UNKNOWN VOICE
Give up.
KEVIN
There’s no one here to cast the
spell, so It has to be attached to
an item.
UNKNOWN VOICE
You can rest if you give up.
FORMOSA
What could It be attached to?
KEVIN
Anything that doesn’t look like It
belongs on this road - something
out of place.
UNKNOWN VOICE
Why even try? You always fail.
ORA
Why even try? I always fail.
FORMOSA
What is It, Ora? Kevin, wait!
UNKNOWN VOICE
The cliff is right there.
ORA
I got us into this.
UNKNOWN VOICE
Rest is right there.
ORA
The cliff...
UNKNOWN VOICE
Jump. Jump.
ORA
I should just...
UNKNOWN VOICE
Jump.
KEVIN
You can’t, Ora! You promised me
you’d live. If you jump off that
cliff! I’ll kill you
RISEN
(Growl)
KEVIN
Aaaaa!
ORA
Kevin? KEVIN!
KEVIN
I’m fine, I’m fine...
FORMOSA
The Lantern!!
ORA
Sorry!!
KEVIN
Thanks, I’ll take that back now.
FORMOSA
There! It’s a statue with runes
along the base.
KEVIN
Where?
FORMOSA
To the right behind Ora, by the
edge of the cliff!
KEVIN
YES! Destroy It!
ORA
I got this!
KEVIN
And we got you!
UNKNOWN VOICE
You are weak. You are a failure.
Give up and die.
ORA
I. Am. Not. Weak!
UNKNOWN VOICE
Nooo!
ORA
Yes!
UNKNOWN VOICE
You can’t stop me with a sword.
ORA
It won’t stop...
UNKNOWN VOICE
I am your voice! I am your fears!
KEVIN
Ora! Hurry!!
ORA
Well, if you are me, then you
already told me what to do!
KEVIN
Ora!
UNKNOWN VOICE
AAAAAaaaa....
KEVIN
(Laughs)
You did It! It stopped!
FORMOSA
As much as I’d love to celebrate...
ORA
Sorry!!
FORMOSA
We have to keep moving, we are too
vulnerable here.
ORA
We’re almost there!
LUSUS NATURAE
(Roar)
KEVIN
Oh no.
ORA
The Lusus Naturae! It is alive! It
can get within the lantern light!
Aim for its wings! If we can cut
them off and push It off the cliff,
it’ll die.
FORMOSA
No! It’s enspelled, we can’t kill
her!
KEVIN
Then what are we supposed to do?!
FORMOSA
The red rope around her neck, I’m
going to hack It off and free her!
KEVIN
You know, even freed, It might
still attack us.
FORMOSA
I know. You two just keep the dead
off of me.
LUSUS NATURAE
(Roar)
FORMOSA
I’m trying to help you.
LUSUS NATURAE
(Roar)
FORMOSA
I did It.
KEVIN
It’s going to attack!
FORMOSA
I’m sorry...
KEVIN
It didn’t kill us.
FORMOSA
No she didn’t.
ORA
I almost thought It would...
KEVIN
It’s...it’s coming back!
ORA
Where do we go?!
KEVIN
Stay in the light!!
ORA
DUCK!!
FORMOSA
So be It...
ORA
What!
KEVIN
Ha...AHAHAHA! It...It missed us!
ORA
I...was sure...what was that?!
KEVIN
I can’t believe It missed us!!
FORMOSA
It didn’t miss...look.
ORA
It cleared the path...
KEVIN
How...?
It...
We...?
FORMOSA
Shut up and run!!
KEVIN
I...I can’t believe we made It.
FORMOSA
Do It, Ora.
ORA
I didn’t know It would have images
and words carved into It. It’s
beautiful.
KEVIN
Of course it’s beautiful, that’s
pure silver.
The gate’s so cold to the touch.
ORA
Quiet. I’m trying to concentrate.
KEVIN
I don’t think It will work.
ORA
Shut up.
FORMOSA
Hurry up. They’re coming!
KEVIN
I don’t think It-
ORAAND
It will work! It has to!
FORMOSA
They’re here. Keep trying, I’ll
defend you.
ORA
Maybe I need to knock or push on
It.
KEVIN
I’m so sorry.
ORA
Wait... wait the words on the door.
KEVIN
What about them?
ORA
NO!! It can’t be!! It’s another
Prophecy.
END OF EPISODE 27