Act 3, Scene 4: Showdown

RATS

TECH PREROLL

LX-0099 Work Light OFF (Static Playbacks)

LX-0099 STANDBY for GO, all cavern

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Unmute Desk

Puppeteer1: ON

DIALOG

STANDBY Stage left [1, 1st, off]: Tim'ofej, Yan'ano (Gryphon puppet) without actors, Vis'alik

STANDBY Stage left [1, 2nd, off]: None

STANDBY Stage right [7, 1st, off]: Zil'iya (Tiger puppet without puppetteers), Meld'okan

STANDBY Stage right [7, 2nd, off]: None

STANDBY Stage: Yan'ano (Wolf puppet) floating in a yoga pose above crystal rock pedestal 2 at [3, 1st], Zil'iya (Wolf puppet) at [6, 1st] below play-rail, also doing a floating yoga pose.

LX-0000 fade-in: T2 near, T2 mid

Open the Curtain.

Curtain - open

LX-3400 -> 2-1 Cave

AMB-3401 - Magic Cave
SND-3401 - Hovering Yan

Yan'ano (Wolf) floats in a yoga pose above crystal rock pedestal 2 at [3, 1st], hovering a foot above the ground, meditating, sitting cross-legged.

Yan'ano: "Hmmmm ... mmmmm ..."

Yan'ano: "I know you're here Zil'iya. Are you just going to silently admire me for the rest of the night, or are you finally going to come out and face your nemesis?"

Zil'iya (Wolf) appears from a direction that definitely has no entrance [6, 1st], also hovering, also sitting cross-legged, mimicking Yan's yoga pose.

SND-3402 - Hovering Zil

Zil'iya: "Greetings, my brother. Long time no see. How did you know I'd come here?"

Yan'ano: "Your funny little sidekick has been following me around for days. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist when they told you that I was waiting here."

Zil'iya: "And what are you going to do now? Fight me for the throne?"

Zil'iya and Yan'ano move closer to each other.

SND-3401 FADE
SND-3402 FADE

Yan'ano: "I couldn't care less about the throne. You robbed the people of their most precious gift - magic. And I am the one who empowered you to do that. And I can't forgive myself for that."

Zil'iya: "I offered you a kingdom's worth in gold for your loyalty. What more do you want?"

Yan'ano: "The kingdom's worth in magic."

Zil'iya: "Magic is a force of nature sprouting and growing like weed. When left to its own devices, it will soon overgrow everything and weaken the realm's foundations with its roots."

Yan'ano: "One man's weed is another man's flower."

Zil'iya: "Then it's time to choose our weapons, brother. How about a classic sword fight, like back in the day?"

Zil'iya and Yan'ano move back to their platforms (Zil'iya to [5, 1st], Yan'ano to [3, 1st]).

Zil'iya draws a comically big sword, and wields it around like a toy.

SND-3403 - Draw Small Sword

Zil'iya: "Hu! Ha! HA!"

Yan'ano: "That's not a sword. THIS is a sword!"

SND-3404 - Draw BIG Sword

Yan'ano pulls out the REALLY BIG SWORD out of nowhere, holding it straight up.

Zil'iya: "You know it's not about the size, don't you?"

Have Zil'iya's tiger puppet ready near Zil'iya.

Have Yan'ano's gryphon puppet ready near Yan'ano.

Yan'ano: "Of course not, it's about HOW YOU USE IT!"

SND-3405 - Fireball

Yan'ano lowers the sword, it charges up like a magic item with the sword effect and some smoke rising up, and shoots a giant fireball from its blade at Zil'iya.

LX-3401 +Fireball impact
Zil'iya gets hit by the fireball.

SND-3406 - Fireball Hit

Zil'iya throws the big sword into the ground behind her near [7, 1st], freeing her hands.

A large explosion happens:

CO2 firing straight up with red light turning it fiery red.

Smoke rising up.

Throw debris.

Strobe.

Zil'iya gets replaced by a smouldering pile of rubble and ashes.

Change Zil'iya into the tiger puppet. Remove wolf puppet from stage but keep it on standby.

Yan'ano pauses for a moment, but nothing happens.

Yan'ano (not buying it): "Oh, come on ... that's ridiculous."

Zil'iya_Tiger appears in her BATTLE TIGER form, climbing the rock platform at [5.5, 1st].

SND-3407 - Stones and Debris falling

Zil'iya_Tiger laughs!

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Come on, brother, let's fight like real mages!"

Yan'ano: "I thought you'd never ask."

Yan'ano drops the REALLY BIG SWORD (it disappears and is never seen again) and transforms.

SND-3408 - Transformation

LX-3402 +TF magic
Execute Yan'ano's transformation. Remove wolf puppet from stage.

Yan'ano_Gryphon shifts into Gryphon-Yan'ano, climbing the rock platform at [2.5, 1st].

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Look at me, Yan! Look deeply into my eyes!"

Zil'iya_Tiger 's eyes light up, and a beam of light casts from her head at Yan'ano_Gryphon.

SND-3409 - Mind Control

Yan'ano_Gryphon cries out in pain, but remains standing.

Zil'iya_Tiger stalks forwards towards Yan'ano_Gryphon.

Yan'ano_Gryphon lowers his head into a defensive stance, and gathers all his strength.

Yan'ano_Gryphon casts a magic shield deflecting the light.

SND-3410 - Magic Shield

Yan'ano_Gryphon *GASPS*

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "I've spend years preparing for this moment, I'm not letting you get me THAT easily!"

Yan'ano_Gryphon rights himself up.

Yan'ano_Gryphon lets out a battle cry

SND-3410B - Gryphon Cry

Yan'ano_Gryphon stomps on the ground with his front paws, sending a seismic shock wave through the room. Projection Media (Crystal Cave, Yan's Seismic Shock Wave) plays on the projection.

DO **NOT** FIRE A SMOKE RING HERE

SND-3411 - Seismic Shock Wave

Zil'iya_Tiger gets swept off her feet, crashing into her pedestal behind her at [5.5, 1st], then falls down.

SND-3412 - Shield Down

Magic shield disappears.

Yan'ano_Gryphon takes a big leap across the stage towards [5.5, 1st], and physically jumps on top of Zil'iya_Tiger.

Yan'ano_Gryphon hacks at Zil'iya_Tiger with his beak, trying to get at her throat.

SND-3413 - Fighting

Zil'iya_Tiger tries the same.

Yan'ano_Gryphon grabs Zil'iya_Tiger's throat and pushes her down as if to choke her. For just a second it seems he has won.

Zil'iya_Tiger: "RRRRRRAAAAAAAAARGH!"

SND-3414 - Magic Flames

Zil'iya_Tiger is suddenly engulfed in magic flames lit up by green light (bright green light and CO2 Jet).

Yan'ano_Gryphon gets thrown off backwards and limps back onto his platform at [2.5, 1st].

Zil'iya_Tiger rights herself up again, notably hurt and damaged.

Yan'ano_Gryphon rights himself up again, notably hurt and damaged.

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "Argh, dammit ... "

Yan'ano_Gryphon brings the magic shield back up and hides behind it.

SND-3415 - Magic Shield

Magic shield appears.

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Oh, did I ruffle your pretty plumage?"

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "I don't know who taught you that, because I surely didn't!"

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Then let me show you something you DID teach me ..."

LX-3403 +Lightning strike
SND-3416 - Lightning Strike

Zil'iya_Tiger casts a lightning strike into the slanted crystal 1 right above Yan'ano_Gryphon - circumventing the magic shield. A bright Projection Media (Crystal Cave, Lightning Strike Light) plays on the projection.

The giant slanted crystal 1 falls on Yan'ano_Gryphon, crushing him underneath.

SND-3417 - Crystal Hits

Magic shield disappears.

Yan'ano_Gryphon gets crushed on his platform at [2.5, 1st].

Yan'ano_Gryphon is in a lot of unbearable pain.

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "Yaaaaaarrghhhhh ..."

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Yan'ano's magic masterclass, first semester: If your opponent is taking cover, use the environment to your advantage. And now the great teacher's wisdom leads to their own demise. A work of poetry."

Yan'ano_Gryphon (weak): "You son of a whore ..."

Zil'iya_Tiger: "If I am the child of a whore, so are you. But unlike you, I'm also the child of a king."

SND-3418 - Rrrrrumble!

The giant slanted crystal 1 begins to shake, and slowly moves off of Yan'ano_Gryphon, eventually falling to the other side.

Yan'ano_Gryphon groans and doesn't move.

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Wait ... what ... how the hell did you do that?"

Tim'ofej appears from the entrance at [1, 1st], walking between Yan'ano and Zil'iya at [4, 1st].

Tim'ofej: "That wasn't him."

Yan'ano_Gryphon (weak): "Tim, you bloody fool."

Zil'iya_Tiger laughs.

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Oh look, the sorcerer's apprentice enters the scene! What a twist!"

Tim'ofej: "I'm stronger than you think."

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Well, then show me what you've got!"

SND-3419 - Chicken Attack

Tim'ofej casts a huge flock of chickens that immediately attack Zil'iya_Tiger.

feathers fly all over the place while the chickens do their thing.

Zil'iya_Tiger laughs as if she's being tickled.

Zil'iya_Tiger: "Enough! OFF WITH YOU!"

Zil'iya_Tiger stomps the floor. Projection Media (Crystal Cave, Earthquake) playing on the projection.

SND-3419 - Chicken Attack ENDS

All the chickens get catapulted into random directions ... except for one.

Zil'iya_Tiger kills the last chicken tiger style, biting into it, then shaking it. She drops the chicken, feathers flying up.

SND-3420 - GrowlCrunchNom

Zil'iya_Tiger: "And now to you, boy!"

Zil'iya_Tiger stalks toward Tim'ofej, growling.

Tim'ofej makes a gesture with his paws.

SND-3421-Ghost Hands

A bunch of white ghost hands appear, and grab Zil'iya_Tiger, holding her in a tight inescapable grip near [5, 1st], hovering her above the ground. One hand holds her muzzle shut.

Tim'ofej (mad): "Yan'ano is my friend. If you want to get my friend, you have to get through me, first."

RATS-Ghost Hand Flies Off (repeat ....)

The hands fly away one by one as Tim'ofej's strength declines.

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "What in Zan'ika's name do you think you're doing?"

Tim'ofej: "I'm buying you time! Come on, shift back and heal your wounds! What are you waiting for?"

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "You're an idiot, Tim! You have learned nothing!"

The hand holding Zil'iya_Tiger's muzzle flies away as Tim'ofej's strength declines.

Zil'iya_Tiger laughs.

SND-3422-Telekinesis

Zil'iya_Tiger telekinetically picks up the big sword, makes it SLOWLY fly up, pass over Tim'ofej's head, and hovers it about Yan'ano_Gryphon's body.

Tim'ofej: "No! NO! Move, you stubborn old gryphon, MOVE!"

Zil'iya: "And now, finally ... JUSTICE!"

The big sword swoops down, stabbing Yan'ano_Gryphon into the chest (or whatever is available).

SND-3423-BIG STAB

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!"

Zil'iya_Tiger laughs

Tim'ofej: "FUCK!"

Tim'ofej throws Zil'iya_Tiger against the nearest wall by casting an air vortex (the slanted crystal 7 at [6.5, 1st]).

SND-3424-Air Vortex

Tim'ofej: "Okay ... okay ... how did that cursed magic shield work again? Shit ... shitshitshitshit ... hnnngrrr ..."

Tim'ofej casts a magic shield at [4, 1st] in front of him and Yan'ano_Gryphon. He needs a few tries to be successfull.

SND-3425-Magic Shield Fail
SND-3425 (cont.)-Magic Shield Fail
SND-3425 (cont.)-Magic Shield Comes up

Raise Magic Shield

Tim'ofej: "YES!"

Tim'ofej rushes over to Yan'ano_Gryphon, shaking him.

Zil'iya_Tiger stalks towards the magic shield, attacking it with small magic spells and her natural weapons, trying to break through. She does so silently and does neither growl nor speak.

Tim'ofej: "Yan ... YAN! If you're still alive ... please, please, please, heal yourself, and I'll get us out of here, I promise!"

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "You can't run from a battle mage. You've got to kill me, Tim'ofej. That's our only chance."

Tim'ofej: "HAVE YOU GONE INSANE?"

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "Neither you nor I have enough magic power left to defeat Zil'iya. But our strength combined might do it. Kill me, Tim, and take my power."

Tim'ofej (desperate): "I ... I can't do that ... I love you!"

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "It's time to let go, Tim. Only you can save magic now."

Tim'ofej: "NO! NO! I'm not ready for this ... "

The magic shield begins to flicker.

SND-3426-Magic Shield stutter

Tim'ofej frantically looks back and forth. He sees Zil'iya_Tiger slowly gathering her strength.

Yan'ano_Gryphon: "You will be ready ... if you learn this final lesson, and let ... me ... go ..."

Tim'ofej (crying): "I ... I ... I will never forget you Yan! May *breathes* Zan'ika *breathes harder* forgive me *breathes really hard* Raaaaaaaaaaaargh!"

Tim'ofej lurches forward, and pushes the big sword deep into Yan'ano_Gryphon's heart.

The magic shield disappears.

SND-3426 - Stab - Release of Life Force

LX-3404 +TF magic
Yan'ano_Gryphon dies and floats away into the back before the usual transformation effect starts. But instead of transforming back, Yan'ano_Gryphon disappears. The transformation effect rushes towards Tim'ofej, who grabs and holds it, before releasing it's might towards Zil'iya for the final spell. The physical effect is supported by Projection Media (Crystal Cave, Life Force) on the projection.

Tim'ofej turns around, channeling all his hate and pain into his one final spell. The projection shows Projection Media (Crystal Cave, Final Spell Charge Up).

LX-3405 +Final spell magic
SND-3427 - Spell Charges Up

Tim'ofej: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! DIE ZIL'IYA, DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!"

LX-3406 +Final spell magic
SND-3427 (cont.) - Spell FIRES

Tim'ofej releases the final spell into Zil'iya_Tiger's general direction.

CO2 fog rushes towards Zil'iya from Tim'ofej.

LX-3407 +Intense magic
Complete and utter mayhem. lightning strikes hitting, rocks falling (on back-projection), chickens flying, Projection Media (Crystal Cave, Final Spell Attack) playing on the projection.

Zil'iya_Tiger gets covered completely in fallen rocks and crystal shards under a pile of rubble at [5.5, 1st].

Change Zil'iya_Tiger back to her Wolf puppet.

The mayhem subsides, and we're left in complete silence.

Complete silence for a few seconds (if audience reaction, some silence after that has subsided).

Tim'ofej is completely exhausted, and weeping for his dead friend.

The big sword pulls itself from Yan'ano_Gryphon's body, and begins to hover again.

SND-3428 - Telekinesis

Tim'ofej looks up.

Tim'ofej: "What the hell ...?"

Zil'iya (Wolf), completely unharmed, digs herself out from the pile of rubble at [5.5, 1st].

Zil'iya: "*cough cough* Wow, I really got myself a little dusty down there ..."

Zil'iya wipes the dust off her clothes, waves a paw, and the big sword swoops over to her, and into her hand.

SND-3428 - FADE

Zil'iya: "Well, well, well ... I can't help being impressed. That was quite a show."

Tim'ofej (trying to sound confident): "You can't scare me, I know you don't have a chicken's throw worth of magic power left in you."

Zil'iya: "Who needs magic if you know how to swing a sword?"

Zil'iya swings the big sword a few times.

Tim'ofej tries to stand up, nearly falling over because he's completely exhausted.

Tim'ofej: "If I had one, I'd show you ..."

Zil'iya (laughs): "Really? Okay. Here. You can have mine."

SND-3429 - Throw Sword Telekinesis

Zil'iya magic-throws the big sword at Tim'ofej.

Tim'ofej jumps backwards just in time

The big sword gets stuck in the ground in front of Tim'ofej

SND-3430 - Sword Hit

Zil'iya: "There, take it."

Tim'ofej staggers forward, and tries to pull out the big sword. It's stuck too fast.

Tim'ofej tries, desperately.

Zil'iya laughs, louder and louder, with each try.

Zil'iya: "Okay, enough entertainment for today."

The big sword pulls from the ground with little effort.

SND-3431 - Telekinesis

Zil'iya levitates the big sword above Tim'ofej.

Tim'ofej is defeated. He knows it. He falls to his knees at [3.5, 1st], dropping his head, like at an execution.

Zil'iya: "Prepare to meet your friend in the afterlife, Tim'ofej, last mage of Sen'ayda."

Zil'iya suddenly flinches.

SND-3432 - Stab

Zil'iya: "GAAAAAAAAACKKKK!!!! HHRHBRHBLBRHB!"

The big sword drops and falls onto the play-rail, staying there.

SND-3433 - Sword Drop

Zil'iya slowly falls over forwards, landing on the playrail ... with a kitchen knife in her back.

Meld'okan gets revealed, standing behind Zil'iya, one arm a bloody stump with some impromptu bandage around the hand.

Tim'ofej (dumbfounded): "Meld?"

Meld'okan: "Are ... are you okay, Tim?"

Tim'ofej: "No. But I've never been more happy to see you!"

Tim'ofej hugs Meld'okan.

Meld'okan: "Aaargh! Ouch! Aaaaah!"

Tim'ofej lets go.

Tim'ofej: "Your ... your paw! What happened to your paw?"

Meld'okan: "I couldn't just stay and let you walk into certain death ..."

Tim'ofej (agitated): "We need to get you to a healer as quickly as possible!"

Vis'alik comes in from [1, 1st], carrying his own fancy sword with both hands.

Vis'alik: "*AH-HEM*"

Tim'ofej: "Now what the fuck do YOU want from me?"

Vis'alik bows before Tim'ofej, offering him the fancy sword.

Vis'alik: "Your majesty! I, Vis'alik, would like to offer help for your friend ... and my services as the new King's personal assistant."

Tim'ofej: "Are you mocking me?"

Vis'alik stands up, holstering his fancy sword.

Vis'alik: "I served King Say'ake-Sen, I served Arch Mage Inok'bana, and I served Queen Zil'iya-Sen. I served so many of them that I know a king when I see one. I have very detailed and in-depth knowledge of the royal court's protocols and proceedings and the unconditional trust of the treasurer. I have an impeccable record, and can say with utmost confidence, that I am exactly the person your majesty needs right now."

Tim'ofej: "What are you talking about, I am not the new King!"

Vis'alik: "We have a crown, and it wants to be worn."

Tim'ofej: "No, but that doesn't ..."

Vis'alik: "Good! And if I were you, I'd keep it that way, unless you want to plunge the realm into decades, if not centuries of civil war."

Tim'ofej: "But I'm just some random guy!"

Vis'alik straightens Tim'ofej, and dusts him off a bit. He picks up the Queen's crown.

Vis'alik: "On the contrary. You are the mighty Tim'ofej-Sen, who defeated Queen Zil'iya-Sen in an honourable duel to the death."

Vis'alik puts the crown on Tim'ofej's head.

Vis'alik: "There, doesn't feel so bad, does it? Long live King Tim'ofej-Sen, The Last Mage of Sen'ayda!"

Tim'ofej: "Please don't call me that."

Vis'alik: "It's either that or an age of civil war. So please, no more arguments!"

Tim'ofej: "No, I mean, please don't call me 'the last mage'. If anything, I want to be 'the first mage'. The first of many to come. If there's anything I've learned then it is that Zil and Yan were both right in their own way. Magic can be like poison weed, that drives you to madness. Or it can be like a beautiful flower, that brings out the best in you. But you can never force it back. It'll come out again somewhere, like dandelions splitting through a rock. Let's make this the beginning of a new age. An age in which magic is free to thrive again. It is what Yan'ano wanted, and it is now also what I want."

Vis'alik: "Spoken like a true King."

Tim'ofej: "Yeah, we should really write that down at some point. But first we need to take care of this poor guy. Vis, can I take Meld'okan with me to the palace?"

Vis'alik: "Your majesty can do whatever they want. And I'll be happy to get him the best medical care the realm has to offer."

Tim'ofej: "Then please make it so!"

Tim'ofej turns towards Meld, and looks him deep in the eyes.

Tim'ofej: "Because he's a hero. And my best friend. And I wish I hadn't been too blind to see it all this time."

Meld'okan: "Does that mean you forgive me?"

Tim'ofej: "If you can forgive me, too?"

Meld'okan: "I'm sure we can figure it out."

Tim'ofej begins to cry and embraces Meld'okan.

Tim'ofej and Meld'okan kiss.

Let them kiss for a few seconds

LX-0099 Lights out; very slow fadeout

AMB-3401 FADE

Roll Credits

Close the Curtain.

Curtain - close

LX-0099 Work Light ON