Chapter Text
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
EXT. THE GREAT SMERTH - DAY
Sitting under the bare branches of the Great Tree, urGoh fiddles with the PRAYER BEADS braided into his hair. He chants to himself.
Although the Great Tree's leaves have been burned away, there are signs of fresh growth.
Sensing he's not alone, urGoh looks up from his meditation.
URGOH
You are…late.
SkekGra enters the clearing, brushing leaves off his cloak. He's swapped out his heavy armor for a lighter CHEST PLATE and robes—traveling clothes.
SKEKGRA
You felt what happened. The Emperor wasn't happy, but I convinced him to send me off to Sami Thicket. Idiot even thinks it was his idea.
URGOH
I was starting to think…you weren't coming at all.
Noticing the prayer beads, skekGra tilts his head.
SKEKGRA
I didn't know that mystics wore jewelry.
URGOH
It is not…jewelry.
Shaking his head, skekGra picks up urGoh's SATCHEL and heaves it over his shoulder.
Without his heavy armor, urGoh sees skekGra's scrawny hind-arms for the first time. Intrigued, urGoh circles behind skekGra to get a better look.
His remaining quills raise up. A few spots are conspicuously bare and BANDAGED.
He spins around are bares his teeth. UrGoh jumps back.
SKEKGRA
Don't do that!
URGOH
What?!
SKEKGRA
If you even try to steal a quill, you'll lose a hand—I swear!
URGOH
I just noticed your arms. I didn't realize…we had that…similarity.
SKEKGRA
I should have known mystics don't take trophies. Now come on.
Slowly, urGoh shambles forward.
SKEKGRA
I'd like to get to the Claw Mountains sometime before the next Conjunction.
URGOH
The mountains? In our Vision…I saw a path into the desert…there was…a spire…that rose from the ground.
SKEKGRA
—And the Shard was in a pit! In a cave!
URGOH
You are…sure…that you know the way?
SKEKGRA
The chasm we saw in the Vision—I know it. I know how to get down there.
(He unrolls a WORN MAP from his BAG.)
I've led expeditions there before. Through the Spriton plains, across the Drylands and then through the—
URGOH
Do you have a path…
SKEKGRA
Yes. I'm telling you the way now—
SKEKGRA
…from the Drylands through the Shifting Pass and—
URGOH
…Or does the path…have you?
Groaning, skekGra counts down until his temper settles.
SKEKGRA
Already grinding away at my patience are you?
URGOH
Not "grinding away." It's more…
SKEKGRA
That you're antagonizing me? Tormenting me? Wearing me down?
URGOH
…that your patience clearly needs…polishing.
INT. CASTLE ARCHIVES - DAY
Eri grinds an INK STONE into a DISH and hands the mixture to the Scroll Keeper. Without looking at Eri, he dips his QUILL.
Outside, the gelfling SING together harmoniously.
SCROLL KEEPER
Is that everything then?
TANET
Yes, my lord. We secured the tithes that were given to Lord Conqueror in the vaults.
The Scroll Keeper signs the PARCHMENT with a flourish. Eri leans over and stares at the document with a furrowed brow.
SCROLL KEEPER
Your signature, gelfling.
TANET
But I can not write, Lord Scroll Keeper.
SCROLL KEEPER
Of course! How thoughtless of me.
(He slides her the INK SLAB)
Your palm print will do just fine.
Tanet wets her palm with ink makes an imprint of her hand on the scroll.
As she and Eri leave, the General enters the room. They bow as he passes.
Once they're out of sight, the Scroll Keeper mutters.
SCROLL KEEPER
Gelfling have no need for the written word! My, but it does make them stupid.
GENERAL
Scroll Keeper. What was the name of the last gelfling captain?
The Scroll Keeper flips back through his papers until he finds Lotel's palm print. He squints at the writing.
SCROLL KEEPER
Ah, it was Lotel I believe. Yes, I have in his file that—
The General leaves mid-sentence and descends towards the stables. The gelfling's song grows louder.
EXT. CASTLE STABLES - DAY
The gelfling SING together while they care for their LANDSTRIDERS—feeding them, brushing them, and riding them around their paddock.
A podling feeds SLOP to a WOOLY GISH—a plump and stumpy beast. The podling pauses their work to listen appreciatively to the gelfling's song.
In a TOWER above, the General watches the gelfling and covers his ears with a groan.
Falia rides a landstrider and takes it gracefully through the jumps and turns of their training course. She has it trot and even bow, like dancing.
Designs and size comparisons for some of the creatures encountered on Thra.
VASHI
I've never seen anyone ride a landstrider like that!
FALIA
Well, every Vapran lady must have her noble steed!
(she pats her landstrider)
Even if she's no good at anything else…
When Tanet and Eri walk in, the room goes quiet. The podling gets back to their work.
TANET
Where are the keys to the larder?
The gelfling continue without responding. Only Falia dismounts to pay attention.
TANET
The door was left unlocked.
VAPRAN GELFLING
There is no need to keep it locked during daytime, Captain.
TANET
You have them then?
VAPRAN GELFLING
It's my responsibility to keep them safe.
TANET
It's Unat's responsibility this week actually.
Tanet holds out her ink-stained palm to receive the KEYS. The Vapran guard drops them in her hand and makes a show of wiping imaginary dirt off himself.
The other gelfling snicker at Tanet. She scowls and grabs the guard's wrist, smearing ink on his skin.
TANET
Were your orders unclear to you?
VAPRAN GELFLING
Clearly the Spriton way of doing things take some getting used to.
GENERAL
What is the problem, gelfling?
The gelfling all bow when the General enters.
FALIA
No problems, Lord General!
GENERAL
The castle guard runs smoother when my gelfling are happy. Are you all happy?
ERI
Yes, my lord!
GENERAL
But you were happier when…Lotel was captain? Is that right?
The guards stay silent while Tanet dips into a low bow, holding her HELMET at her hip.
TANET
Apologies, Lord General. I will ensure the continued success of the castle guard! Anything for the Crystal!
VASHI
For the Crystal!
GENERAL
The Conqueror was adamant that you should become captain. He's going to be gone from the castle for a while. He made some poor choices recently.
The General puts his claw on Falia's shoulder.
GENERAL
And you, Vapran—you are Lotel's daughter? He spoke highly of you.
FALIA
My father holds high standards. And Captain Tanet exceeded all of them.
GENERAL
Only the best soldiers are fit to become Captain.
TANET
There is no better soldier than me!
GENERAL
Then prove it!
He draws TWO KNIVES from his belt and tosses them towards Tanet and Falia.
GENERAL
To first blood!
Tanet dives for the blade. In her hands, the knife is more like a sword.
FALIA
I don't even want to be Captain! Tanet—please!
Tanet slashes at Falia, who ducks. She retreats, but trips and hits the ground with a thump.
Tanet points the sword at Falia's throat. Then, she deftly twirls it so that hilt is offered to Falia.
TANET
Take it!
Numbly, Falia accepts the sword from Tanet who backs off and assumes a dueling stance.
TANET
Again!
Tanet lunges at Falia and they clash swords. Falia is no match for Tanet's skill, a fact that Tanet makes readily apparent.
Tanet leaves an obvious opening for Falia, but when she goes to strike, Tanet effortlessly parries her.
GENERAL
Weaklings! Stop playing and fight!
Eri, Vashi, and the rest of the gelfling watch the fight, exchanging nervous looks.
With renewed fury, Tanet strikes at Falia who, again, ducks. Just as Tanet's sword is about to come down on her head, Falia launches herself into the air and takes flight.
Falia perches high up, hanging onto the side of a PILLAR. She catches her breath and looks down.
Tanet looks upward with dread.
VASHI
Go on, Tanet! Fly!
VAPRAN GELFLING
Dive bomb her, Falia!
GENERAL
You wanted to prove yourself, didn't you?! Can't you fly?!
The General rips Tanet's cloak from her back, exposing her MANGLED WINGS.
The gelfling onlookers gasp. Tanet spins backwards—trying in vain to hide what's left of her wings.
GENERAL
This is no place for a feeble, flightless gelfling!
TANET
I don't need wings to be Captain!
VAPRAN GELFLING
She's no better than a childling!
Watching the scene unfold with horror, Falia glides back to the ground.
FALIA
She's right! We'll finish the duel on the ground!
Tanet burns with shame, backing into the GATE to the animal enclosure.
GENERAL
Not necessary.
He kicks open the gate, sending Tanet tumbling into the muddy enclosure.
GENERAL
The skeksis thank you for your service, Spriton. You are dismissed.
TANET
Please, my lord—
GENERAL
Dismissed!
Tanet refuses to break in front of the other gelfling. She pulls herself together and lets out a loud TRILL.
The gelfling stifle surprised laughs at the sound.
DRENCHEN GELFLING
What in Grot was that?
In response to her call, the wooly gish bounds up to her and she hops on its back.
She grabs a handful of its wool for balance and yips again—bidding it to break into a gallop.
VAPRAN GELFLING
That must be her noble steed!
GENERAL
Hah! Consider it a gift!
The onlookers break into laughter.
With Tanet on its back, the creature bounds over the walls and away from the castle. Only then do her tears come.
The General takes Tanet's helmet and gives it to Falia.
GENERAL
Congratulations, Captain. Well played.
EXT. MOUNTAIN PATH - DUSK
SKEKGRA
Shards sake, mystic! Could you possibly go any slower?!
URGOH
If I need to…I can go…
SKEKGRA
Then do so! With haste!
URGOH
…a bit more…
UrGoh ambles along, using his REPAIRED WALKING STICK to support himself.
URGOH
…slowly.
SkekGra shrieks, pressing his hands to his face and nearly clawing himself in frustration.
They reach a fork in the path and skekGra follows it, going downhill. UrGoh starts uphill.
SKEKGRA
No—no! No, absolutely not. We are taking the most direct route. You are simply too slow to justify going the scenic way, mystic!
Stubbornly, urGoh sets down his DRINKING GOURD and uses his STAFF to draw a sigil in the dirt.
He carefully places a pointed GEM in the center of the circular design. Waving his arm, he begins to SING.
SkekGra circles around urGoh and stands in front of him, blocking his view of the path.
SKEKGRA
I have already stopped twice for you to meditate! No more!
The reverberations of urGoh's voice cause the gem to glow and spin—pointing the way. Even after urGoh stops singing, the gem continues to rotate—settling to it's final direction.
It points to the path up the mountain, just over skekGra's shoulder.
UrGoh pockets the gem, ambles past skekGra, and up the trail.
URGOH
Given the nature of our quest…it would be wise for us…to visit Mother Aughra's orrery.
Thoughtfully, skekGra looks up at the mountain tops.
SKEKGRA
That old crone! If we could rouse her—that would simplify things.
URGOH
Then we go…and ask her guidance.
SKEKGRA
That's wonderful, but your "wayfinding" crystal is sending you the wrong way.
UrGoh looks back at skekGra, perplexed.
SKEKGRA
The orrery is on the other peak. Not this one.
URGOH
Is that…so?
SkekGra uses his SPEAR to cut away a SHEET OF MOSS, revealing an OVERGROWN TRAIL—a third path. He smiles lopsidedly.
SKEKGRA
Looks like I got all our sense of direction in the Division, eh mystic? Uh…UrGoh.
URGOH
Lead the way then, my opposite one…SkekGra.
They make their way up the overgrown trail, this time, laughing together.
FADE OUT.