Dramatis Personae

Rolf JULIAN -Idealistic Tasnican Cavalry officer in his early twenties, serving in a detachment in Auria.
Erwin YEATS -Rolf’s friend, another young Cavalry officer.
MARGARET Yeats -Erwin’s wife
FRANKLIN Yeats -Erwin’s six-year-old son
Johann MALNEN -Cavalry Hauptmann, commanding officer of Rolf and Erwin
JARYA Kareni -A Ticonderan slave girl, from the Marak region
CODFRIED -A wealthy Priman merchant, Jarya’s owner.
Alexandra TOSNOVA -A Red Star, one of the secret society of physical adepts sworn to vanquish the follows of the evil gods and demon worshippers.
ABDULLAH ibn Khotemi -Thirteen-year-old Auria native, serving in Tasnican detachment as drummer boy and unofficial unit mascot; nicknamed ‘Abe’ by Tasnican soldiers

Setting: Auria, the Dragon Dimension 7 WB. In another part of the Web the Great War is beginning, but in Auria the Shah continues to rely on Tasnican support to preserve his independence from a powerful ruler to the south, the Sultan of Aradia.

Act One
Scene One: A bar. JULIAN and YEATS are sitting, drinking; bar patrons of all types sit, drink, and dance. The bar is illuminated by oil lamps; electricity does not exist in the Dragon dimension. There are other Tasnican soldiers, dark-skinned humans, Primans, and others. The two soldiers (huhuh, I said ‘two soldiers’) are in the orange-and-green uniform, with cavalry spurs. Their large, spiked helmets sit on the bar. JULIAN’s uniform has one more rank stripe than YEATS’s.  

YEATS: Another round, sir, we’re celebrating the promotion of my good friend, here. Looks at Julian . Oberleutnant, indeed! At this rate you’ll command the whole REF someday!

JULIAN: ( Taking a drink )   Do you like it here, Yeats?

YEATS: Well, I had to send for my family, and I don’t know if Auria is any kind of place to raise a kid….but it’s better than Frank growing up without a father. If there’s a war, though—

JULIAN: There won’t be a war here, yet anyway. The Sultan would never challenge the Republic. No, it’s Baron we need to worry about. There’s trouble in Ticondera, but that’s so far away it might as well be on Heinlein.

YEATS: Way to think about the Big Picture, Julian. Why, when I’m Prime Minister, I might consent to have you be a Hauptmann or something in my REF! Laughter . Well, you asked me if I liked it here. How could I not? ( Gestures around at the bar In Tasnicaport everyone respects the army, but respect doesn’t pay the bills. Takes out a coin ) ‘This coin is legal tender for all debts, public and private, within this Tasnica Republic.” It’s worth ten times as much here in Auria. ( Chuckles, puts it on bar for a tip ) Back home in Norfrest that’s enough for a loaf of bread, but it’ll feed this bartender’s family for a week. Of course I like it here. We are living like KINGS. It might be a bit odd, but I can afford to get my family all the stuff they deserved, here. You ever thought about starting a family, Julian? You take care of Abe a lot, you’d make a good father.

JULIAN: Why become a father when there are so many bridges in the city I could jump off of instead?

YEATS: That was my attitude, but when you meet the right girl, it’s not like you have much of a choice. The Republic might allow free will, but love does not.

Several of the other patrons leave, including all the other Tasnicans, but JULIAN and YEATS remain. Light darkens on the stage. Enter CODFRIED, a well-dressed Priman merchant, and his slave, JARYA, clasped in chains; although a tattered mess, she is beautiful.

JULIAN: ( Quietly ) You were right, Erwin. There’s the right woman, and I don’t have a choice.

CODRFIED approaches them He is already somewhat drunk.

CODFRIED: A round of drinks for the magnificent Tasnicans! This whole dimension’s a shitty place, but the valiant cavalry of the Republic makes Auria a safe place to do business! Onward, Elementalist soldiers! ( Scurries off into dark corner )

JULIAN: Who was that girl?

YEATS: Dunno. Not from around here, though, and definitely not Tasnican, either.

JULIAN: ( staring/gawking ) Her skin radiates a golden energy…it’s as if this whole place has been lit up like the sun. Every atom in this room has become of superior quality because of her.

YEATS: Lovestruck, eh? No good will come of this, Rolf.

JULIAN: What, what do you mean?

YEATS: Didn’t you see how she was bound in chains? How she deliberately avoided eye contact with us? She’s a slave, Rolf. We’re not in Tasnica anymore.

JULIAN: Barbaric…

YEATS: Where’s your sense of cultural sensitivity?

COFRIED starts to shout at JARYA angrily. She shouts something inaudible back. The Priman takes a long whip out from his coat, and starts to beat her. JULIAN and YEATS flinch with each lash; the other bar patrons completely ignore this. JULIAN stands up.

YEATS: You’re going to do something stupid, aren’t you?

JULIAN: Yeah. Get my back. ( Approaches CODFIED ) You there, that’s no way to treat a lady!

CODFRIED: ( Faces JULIAN ) I let you use your spurs on your horse, let me do what I want with my animal.

JULIAN: Let her go!

CODFRIED: ( Smiling ) You might be a Tasnican soldier, but this is not Tasnica. I paid good money for that Marak, and I am not about to fork her over to some Hun thug with a Belgememnon complex.

JULIAN punches CODFRIED in the face. CODFRIED drops his whip, startled. YEATS fires a two-barreled gun into the air, and points it at CODFRIED.

YEATS: Truppenamt’s latest. I suggest you leave, Priman.

JULIAN: And leave the woman.

YEATS gives JULIAN a ‘that’s a terrible idea, but I’m your friend and I’m backing you up anyway” glance.

CODFRIED: I am robbed at gunpoint. You’re no better than a common thief!

JULIAN: This isn’t a robbery. It’s a liberation.

Exit CODFRIED

YEATS: Well, I don’t know how much longer we’ll be welcome here. ( Tosses coin to bartender ) Sorry about the mess.

JULIAN: ( leans down, looking into JARYA’s eyes ) What’s your name?

JARYA: ( Looks up, slowly ) Jarya…it’s been such a long time since anyone asked…

JULIAN: Well, you’re safe now.

JARYA: No, I’m not.

End Scene One

Scene II, JULIAN’s home, a small cottage on the outskirts of Auria. It is still that night. JULIAN is on stage already; enter JARYA, free of bonds, cleaned up and showered, and wearing oversized men’s clothes. She should have ‘pretty girl soft lighting’. JULIAN does a double take.

JULIAN: I never knew such a women as you existed.

JARYA: I never knew such a man as you existed. When I first saw you, I saw the way you looked at me, but I just assumed you were sizing me up to buy me.

JULIAN: No, I would never. My country goes to war to end slavery.

JARYA: In my country, women are bought and sold, like cattle and horses.

JULIAN: Where are you from?

JARYA: Ticondera. But the magnificent Tauroch, in his infernal wisdom, has seen fit to free me and bring me here, to you. Do you believe in destiny, Rolf?

JULIAN: No, not really. There’s no rule of Gods, only the rule of Men, and I hope we make it a good one.

JARYA: Don’t be foolish. Tauroch abhors fools.

JULIAN: Everyone here is so religious, it seems. We have this drummer boy, a local, and he pricks his fingers three times a day, spills his blood on a piece of paper, and burns them. ‘Give blood to the Dragon’ or whatever.

JARYA: Tasnicans don’t have much use for gods? I feel sorry for them.

JULIAN: Sorry for me? ( Chuckles ) You are bought and sold like a piece of meat, and you feel sorry for me?

JARYA: Yes.

JULIAN: Well, you shouldn’t feel sorry for me. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been.

JARYA: Why?

JULIAN: Because, just once in my lifetime, I got to see a woman like you.

JARYA: The King of Lies himself should have such a honeyed tongue.

JULIAN: It is no lie. ( Blushes, a little embarrassed ) Sorry, I spoke too soon.

JARYA: ( Walks towards him ): It’s alright…I thought Tauroch was punishing me for my foolishness, but now I see that I’ve been brought here to meet you. ( Kisses him. )

JULIAN: ( A little flustered ) I, uh…

JARYA: I don’t know how many men have used me before…I think, Rolf, that you will be the first man I actually make love to.

End Scene Two
End Act One

Act Two
Scene: A sunny day on a grassy hill. YEATS, MARGARET, JARYA, and JULIAN sit on a picnic blanket eating sandwiches; ABDULLAH, a dark-skinned local, plays with YEATS’s son FRANKLIN, who is a little younger. The soldiers are wearing civilian clothes; Jarya finally has some nice woman’s clothes. YEATS has his arm in a sling. The area in front of the stage, but before the audience’s seating, is marked in blue lighting and cellophane and other stage contrivance to be a lake.

YEATS: Such a happy, little, tranquil day…almost like we’re back in Norfrest, really.

JULIAN: There are no women like Jarya in Norfrest.

YEATS: Yeah, I had to make do. ( Smiles as MARGARET thwaps him. ) Watch the arm, the new charger didn’t take to me so well.

JULIAN: You’re right, though; it’s good to know this dimension has a few spots on it that aren’t hellholes.

FRANKLIN wanders off, starts playing in the lake.

ABDULLAH: God does not test us with an easy world.

JARYA: What an astute young boy. How do you survive such a hard world, boy?

ABDULLAH: Faith in the One Dragon God. That is what the clerics say.

JARYA: Wrong. The world belongs to the cruel, and the ruthless.

YEATS: Man, Rolf, your girlfriend has a bit of a macabre streak.

FRANKLIN: ( From the lake ) HELP! HELP, I’M DROWNING!

MARGARET: SOMEONE! SAVE MY BABY BOY! Erwin, Rolf, please…!

YEATS: ( Looks at broken arm, then looks at JULIAN. ) Rolf…

JULIAN prepares to jump in the water, but JARYA jumps first. Cleanly and quickly, she pulls FRANKLIN out from the lake.

MARGARET: Thank you so much for saving my boy! ( Clutches Franklin. )

YEATS: That wasn’t very ruthless, or cruel.

JARYA: ( Smiles ) I…I wanted to do something nice for you. For helping me.

JULIAN: I’m sure Tauroch would approve.

JARYA: No, he wouldn’t.

ABDULLAH: ( Eyes narrow ) Who?

JULIAN: Well, apparently Jarya was some kind of priestess before the rebels captured her and sold her into slavery.

ABDULLAH: To…Tauroch?

JARYA: It’s not important, that was a lifetime ago.

JULIAN: ( Putting his arm around her ) You really are remarkable.

JARYA: When I was a slave, I don’t think I ever cared about another human being.

ABDULLAH: What about when you were a priestess? What did you think of people when you were a priestess to Tauroch?

JARYA: Children shouldn’t ask questions like that.

Enter MALNEN, a Tasnican Hauptmann. He is wearing his uniform. The thirtyish man has a long beard.

MALNEN: Leutnant Yeats, Oberleutnant Julian, ladies, our drummer boy, and ( glancing at Franklin ) future Leutnant Yeats. How are you this afternoon?

YEATS: Well, things were fine, than Franklin almost drowned, but this fine woman saved him, and all was well again. But Hauptmanner don’t come to picnics in full uniform to bring tidings of great joy, so things are looking down again.

MALNEN: I’m afraid you are correct. A local merchant, a Priman named Codfried, has lodged a complaint against two soldiers. He claims he was robbed. Now, as you know, Auria is a religious state; all the courts are ecclesiastic.

JULIAN: Yeah, and the Shah is head of that religion. At least in Auria, the Sultan down south has different ideas. You can spare me the lesson in local culture.

MALNEN: No, I don’t think I can. You see, although Jarya was purchased as a slave in Ticondera, the Shah several decades ago issued a religious opinion—what they call a Ruling—stating that all non-Draggonethi could be bought and sold as slaves.

JULIAN: You’re joking. We’re here propping up a slave trader?

MALNEN: Well, in recent years Auria hasn’t been such a hub—

JULIAN: That’s not right. We’re Tasnicans , man. Ohne Freiheit, Nichts and all that.

MALNEN: We’re just soldiers, Julian. We do what we’re told to do, and go where we’re told to go. We’re to protect the rule of the Shah, not impose our values on these people.

JULIAN: Well maybe we should be imposing our values on these people! Look at Abe, there…they burned his father alive for sodomy of all things!

ABDULLAH: My father violated the Dragon’s law, and was justly punished.

JULIAN: Haven’t we taught you anything, Abe?

ABDULLAH: You have been very nice to me. But you still do not understand.

JULIAN: Understand what?

ABDULLAH: ( Looks at JARYA ) Without God, you cannot fight evil. Without God, the world is ruled by the cruel and the ruthless.

JARYA: ( looks at JULIAN ) Without the rule of God, you have only the rule of Man. I wonder if it is good.

YEATS: I feel we’ve strayed from the topic at hand. Rolf, we’re in big trouble. Thieves in Auria get their hands cut off.

MALNEN: Well, they can’t cut your hands off; the Extraterritoriality Act guarantees that the Republic protects the rights of all its citizens abroad, even soldiers. I’m not terribly happy with you. Julian, you are degraded in rank to Leutnant; Yeats, you are degraded in rank to Unterleutnant.

JARYA: What about me?

MALNEN: The local authorities demand that we return the stolen property.

MARGARET: You can’t do that! She’s not property, she’s a person! She’s saved my boy!

MALNEN: I’m not sure I have much choice. Another war is coming up, and it’s going to be big, and Tasnica needs its allies. It’s not my decision, Julian, for what it’s worth.

JULIAN: She’s not going back.

JARYA: Rolf…I’m pregnant.

JULIAN: You can’t send a pregnant woman back to slavery! What about the Code of Belgememnon?

MALNEN: “No Tasnican shall be made slave.” She’s not Tasnican.

JULIAN: ( takes a deep breath ) I want to marry her.

MALNEN: ( shrugs ) If you do, we’ll protect her. But shouldn’t you ask her?

JULIAN (, turns to face JARYA ): Jarya Kareni…I know, I’m not the wealthiest guy…I’m just a cavalryman, from a family of cavalrymen…and you…well, you’re like nothing I’ve ever seen. Even though I don’t think I deserve you, I want to marry you.

JARYA: I…I thank you, Rolf Julian. You’ve helped me know some happiness.

MALNEN: Well, then, by the power vested in me as a Hauptmann der Kavalrie of the Republic Expeditionary Force, Auria Detachment, and with the family Yeats and drummer boy Abdullah bin Khotemi as witnesses, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.

Long, slow, stupidly romantic kiss.

JARYA: It’s that easy…am I really free to be happy?

JULIAN: Yes, it is. I’ll take you back to Tasnica, and you’ll be a free woman. We’ll raise our child there. He’ll be a great soldier, I can tell already.

The lights dim on the stage, bit by bit, except one; a spotlight remains on ABDULLAH.

ABDULLAH: It may be so easy to escape the justice of Man, but not the justice of God.

End Act Two

Act Three
Scene One: A dark place. ABDULLAH stands surrounded by hooded figures, including TOSNOVA.

ABDULLAH: The clerics told me that this is where I could find the Order of the Physical Adepts…I do not know much about you, but I know you are sworn to destroy the agents of evil. That you are the Red Stars, the light of Justice. Although you are il’Bleu and I am Draggonethi, I beg you to hear me.

TOSNOVA: Speak.

ABDULLAH: There is a Graulemn here, in Auria. A female Graulemn.

TOSNOVA: Where?

ABDULLAH: Among the Tasnicans. They do not know. They don’t understand. They don’t know what female Graulemn do. Bleu mandates you to punish the cruel. Is anything so cruel as killing an infant?

TOSNOVA: Why do you seek our ‘pagan’ justice?

ABDULLAH: Because God works in mysterious ways. It is not for a mere man to ponder His will. Clearly, He wills that this woman be punished, and you are the best to do it.

TOSNOVA: ( takes her hood off ) Very well. The light of the Red Star will burn the cruel.

Scene Two: JULIAN’s cottage again, a larger bed with both JULIAN and JARYA sleeping in it. There is also a cradle, with a baby inside. TOSNOVA sneaks in through the window, stealthily moves across the floor, and picks up the baby from the cradle. The baby cries; JULIAN and JARYA wake up.

JULIAN: Put my baby down!

TOSNOVA: Stay out of this, Tasnican.

JULIAN: That’s my son!

JULIAN runs at TOSNOVA, and TOSNOVA strikes with one hand. JULIAN crumples into the floor, unable to move.

JULIAN: ( struggles ) I can’t move!

TOSNOVA: Nerve strike. ( Looks at JARYA. ) Do you know what I am?

JARYA: I had hoped that you were just a rumor.

TOSNOVA: The Red Stars are real. And now you will receive our justice, Priestess of Tauroch, God of Darkness, King of Lies. ( Squeezes the baby slightly. It screams. )

JARYA: I deserve this. Now that I have a child of my own, I understand.

TOSNOVA: I had hoped you would understand.

JULIAN: Then you’ll leave us in peace?

TOSNOVA: No. She knows what must be done. She knows her choice.

JARYA: Rolf…when I was a Graulemn, before I was a slave…I killed children. And I liked it. Or thought I did. The Blood God fed me like a drug, as long as I kept giving more blood. I’m not having the blood of our son on my hands. Do with me what you will, Red Star; but my baby is innocent.

TOSNOVA: Very well. I will wait for you outside. Come when you are ready.

TOSNOVA returns the baby to the cradle. Exit TOSNOVA

JULIAN: But, Jarya, you didn’t do all of that…you’re a different person now.

JARYA: ( Leans down, kisses JULIAN ) I am different. I was happy. I was loved. I was able to love. Thank you, Rolf Julian. Take care of our son.

Exit JARYA. A few minutes later, a scream is heard off stage. JULIAN, helpless on the floor, begins to cry.

JULIAN: You were right, Jarya, you were right…the world does belong to the cruel, and to the ruthless…learn that lesson well, son…remember and honor your mother, Burzmale Julian.