Injustice of Kellarn Stonekegg
A one act play in five scenes.
By Katie Popkins.
Authors Historical Note: The play is scribed in full in original text, temporarily banned in Cordor and currently banned in Brogendenstein by the will of Thane Ghestaldt Blimith due to alleged implications of unfaithfulness of his wife, Finibelle. While some lines and scene directions were changed in the actual production, much of the below remained true and the same to the original written words.
Cast
Terto Tarquin: Hero of the Spriggin War
Thane Ghestaldt Blimith: Then (Now Former) Ruler of Brogendenstein
Queen Finibelle Blimith: Ghestaldt's wife, and (implied) Terto's lover
Kellarn Stonekegg: A divine warrior of Brogendenstein
Narrator
Unnamed Female Svirfneblin
Scene 1
[No lights. A female gnome moving about in darkness, seemingly strolling home. A noise should protrude through the darkness, a little shake, or a howl, perhaps. Eventually, she would scream, acting to be taken away off stage.]
Narrator: Her name was Ormina, and she was one of the victims at a time of Urdlen’s attacks, threatening notes, and the mysterious disappearance of the Magister of the Underdark, Saphira Blackstone. One gnome stood outside the entrance, closing the gate. But marched one dwarf, who was not perturbed by the danger deep below.
Kellarn Stonekegg: Hail, Terto. I am Kellarn, and I seek Marble for my personal projects that lies within your underworld.
Terto Tarquin: The Gate will not open, Kellarn. We are besieged from within and must find the culprit before letting anyone else in.
Kellarn Stonekegg: I am a good dwarf, and I fear no gnome. Perhaps I can even aid with your problem!
Terto Tarquin: You will not go forward, Kellarn of Stonekegg. But I will bring your request forward to the next meeting of the Gnomes of the Deep Grotto.
Kellarn Stonekegg: I tried to ask you nicely, gnome. I take no orders from your kind.
[Kellarn Stonekegg would smash down the gate with his weapon of choice, and enter, exiting through the darkness. Terto would look started and then dash out to exit, concluding the scene].
Scene 2
[Throne Room of the Thane. Lights should re-appear once Terto is in a kneeling position. He would rise after saying his first line].
Terto: Thane, Kellarn Stonekegg has entered our lands and endangered our people. We are unable to proceed with our investigation of Urdlen strife with our prior ease.
Thane: Your Grotto is a part of our lands, subject. Why would you preclude us from entering your land? We have always been friends.
Terto: Until this investigation is concluded, it is best we limit travel into the Grotto.
Thane: I will allow it. Kellarn of Stonekegg!
[Kellarn, watching from a nearby pillar approaches].
Thane: Do not be barging into the Grotto until they have given the clear to enter. They are not just our subjects, but earthkin, and should be treated like it.
Kellarn: [Grudgingly]. …As you command, Thane, but this is the Terto, the least of the gnomes, and I the hero of the dwarves.
Terto: [Spins and reaches for his weapon in clear anger].
Thane: Nay, Terto, Nay! And Nay, Kellarn! We speak to eachother better then that! Best you not speak to eachother before you anger eachother and violence ensues. Further complaints about one another can be brought to me.
[The Thane dismises them, lightning should show the king in darkness].
Kellarn: You be lucky the Thane was agreeable. One day, when I am Thane, your antics will be squashed.
Scene 3
Narrator: Kellarn was nothing but threats to Terto since the meeting with the Thane. Slander was posted on boards, whispers to his friends, and the gnome found his social circle dwindling. Each time he was ignored, he grew more impatient and angered, until one day, the day Terto received a summons from the Queen.
[Scene should show Kellarn miming, speaking unscripted phrases, while Terto moves along the stage. Lightning should turn off and on for each appearance. The final scene should show Terto holdling a letter, approaching the Queen. Kellarn can be seen in scene but should be far enough to be visibly distant].
Queen: You look handsome as ever, Terto
Terto: Why, thank you, your greatness.
[Kellarn should approach.]
Queen: Kellarn, this is a private meeting between Terto and myself.
Kellarn: Private nay longer. Have I told you of his misdeeds? Barring the Grotto from friends? Commanding and manipulating the Svirfneblin and dwarfkind alike?
Queen: I have heard nothing but the most enchanting things about Terto.
Kellarn: They be lies. He be a stain on their race, on earthkin!
Queen: Kellarn, please, calm down.
Kellarn: No! I will be the Hero Brogendenstein needs, on this day!
[Kellarn points at Terto. If a wizard is available, they would need to supply an illusion effect, or the actor will have to play dead as if struck from a great spell.].
Queen :Terto!
[Scene Fades.]
Scene 4
[After a long darkness, light should shine on Terto. A dwarven cleric would mutter, and he would stir. Light can fade in and out, showing Terto’s slow recovery while he is healed. On the final return from fade, the queen would hold Terto gently, and speak to him first].
Queen: I am sorry, Terto.
Terto: Where am I? What has befallen me? I feel…weak.
Queen: Kellarn…I cannot believe it, but he attempted to take your life. Would have succeeded, were it not for our finest clerics. Terto… Kellarn, he is dead. The Thane’s best men surrounded him and took his life… this is a dark day. He is here too, being tended too. There will be a trial, I assure you.
[Terto and Kellarn, who is now revealed on the ground, turn their heads to eachother. Kellarn should give Terto the most spiteful, hated look he can. The Thane should be between them , looking visibly moody and upset.].
Thane: You will be trialed for murder on this day, Kellarn. As soon as the priest finishes tending to you.
Kellarn: No mortal dwarves can judge a hero. The Gods shall decide my fate.
[Kellarn mutters a spell. A fire effect should be used, and Kellarn should vanish].
Narrator: The shrouding flames yielded no body, but the dwarves agreed that Kellarn had died that day, and there was no prosecution to move forward on. Terto moved on, troubled, shivering at the memory, moving about Brogendenstein a little quicker, a little quieter, for many, many months.
Scene 5
[Stage should show Terto looking troubled, moving about the set stage of Brogendenstein without the energy of before. The Queen can come in and hug him in comfort, then go off, then the Thane can give him a pat, or the clerics from before dip their head as if to apologize. Then after several moments, stage moving to outside of Brog, with an effect, Kellarn should return.]
Kellarn: No dwarf will aid you out here. This time, no one will return you when I incinerate you fool, who has turned my people against me!
Terto: You are wrong, Kellarn. I fight for Gnomes all over!
[The remaining scene is an acted fight, blade against blade, Terto enduring lethal spells, until he successfully butts Kellarn down with the hilt of his weapon, defeating him. Terto hesitates, but does not take his life. Instead, he rallies other dwarves, who surround him, and take him away.]
[The light dawns, and we see Kellarn being taken away.].
Thane: It be a dark day when a once proud dwarf becomes an exile of Brogendenstein.
Queen: But I do hear good news, that the Urdlenite have been found after all.
Terto: With the help of your majesty, of course.
[The Thane pats his arm, the Queen a peck on the forehead].
Thane: May this be a warning to both evil and pride, that judgement and loneliness awaits those who bullies and takes advantage of friends with fear.
Narrator: The Grotto was never troubled with the dwarf again, and so concluded the first story, of the Minister of Gnome Affairs.
[End].