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Character - White
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Literature Text
INT. MOUNTAIN CABIN, THE PROMENADE – MIDDAY
This small cozy cabin has only the necessities of an old contemplative: a simple single bed, a handmade wooden table, two matching chairs and an area for preparing food. Candles that have been set up on every available space give the room a holy feel. WHITE sits up in his bed chatting amicably with LIGHT, who stands beside him with a warm, sad smile; the DAMNED GOD sits on the foot of the bed and faces away from the two with a scowl. White has never looked older.
- WHITE (calmly)
I'm not scared.
- LIGHT (nods)
Nor should you be.
- DAMNED (angry)
I still say we need him here!
- WHITE
You have the children to aid you.
- LIGHT
You are the godspeaker White. You always have been and always will be.
- WHITE
Klax would make an excellent replacement. He has grown into a fine man, and is far more holy than I.
- DAMNED
That weakling has pledged himself to Light. Now if he had kept his options open like his friend …
- LIGHT
And the opposite goes for young Sorrow. No mortal who follows one god exclusively may be a godspeaker.
- WHITE (chuckles)
Is that the first time you have told me one of the rules of being godspeaker?
- LIGHT
We will miss your laughter White.
- DAMNED
Forget laughter, I will miss his power! There has always been precious few healers, especially since their cult disbanded.
- WHITE
My body has begun to consistently fail me. I can barely hobble around the room, let alone travel.
- DAMNED
There are ways, you know. Ways I could teach you, that would keep your body working.
- LIGHT (sharply)
Damned!
Light had turned to the Damned God with a rare frown, but White waves a hand dismissively.
- WHITE (to Damned)
I know what you speak of, and I could muddle my way through without your help, but why should I? Why should I stay here, in this world that doesn't need me?
Light and the Damned God share a meaningful glance, then Light turns back to White as the Damned God scowls again and turns away.
- LIGHT
We will miss you White.
- WHITE (slowly)
Why? Why does the god of death offer me a way to -
A sudden KNOCK comes at the door, to which White sighs.
- WHITE (shout)
Come in!
KLAX enters the cabin, a modestly-handsome Small Folk man in a well-fitted priest's tunic.
- KLAX
Pardon me master, but we are all here.
- WHITE (warmly)
Excellent! Have them come in, and tell everyone to mind the candles.
KLAX nods, and exits again. White turns to Light and the Damned God with a surprised look.
- WHITE
Normally you two would have disappeared when someone else was around.
- LIGHT
We don't need to disappear anymore. And we'd like to stay for this, if you don't mind.
- DAMNED (nods)
Your eyes are too old and wise to be fooled by our glamor anymore.
Klax re-enters before White can respond, with SORROW and the DRUNK right behind him. Sorrow now looks like a teen of around 15, and wears black-dyed leather armor draped with plenty of knives and a pair of scythe-like kama at his waist, while the Drunk looks exactly the same and has removed his furs in respect for the candles, leaving him in only an old pair of breeches.
- DRUNK (surprised)
I haven't seen you often enough lad, you've gotten so old, so fast!
REINA enters behind the Drunk, and looks a little bothered by his near-nakedness, and TEAL closes the door as she enters last. Reina has the white skin of a shape-shifter but a human body, she wears a long fancy dress that tends to subtly shift and change, while Teal is now a grown woman in thick armor that looks to be made from bark plates, with a shield on her back and a maul at her hip. Sorrow walks over to stand beside White first and places a hand on his forehead.
- SORROW
May the Damned God bring you peace from pain.
Almost as if this benediction was the permission they were waiting for, the rest crowd around White's bed, except for Klax who seems a bit confused. None of them seem able to see Light and the Damned God, but all the same they avoid them. Teal tries to look strong as she bends down on one knee beside the bed, but then rests her head against the bed as tears start to flow from her eyes; Reina stands behind her and pats her back comfortingly. Sorrow looks over at the Drunk, who takes a swig from a hip flask as tears flow unstopped from his eyes.
- SORROW (to the Drunk)
Father, please explain to me whether you are sad or happy.
- DRUNK
Sad of course!
- SORROW
But father will soon shed his mortal pain at the Damned God's side.
- DRUNK
True my lad, but he will be apart from us.
Klax walks closer to the others with a worried look.
- KLAX
Pardon me, but I think I may have miss-communicated something. You see, Master White is not -
- WHITE
I'm not dying! Who said I was dying?
Teal and the Drunk suddenly stop blubbering and look up, then along with Sorrow and Reina turn to face Klax, who seems somewhat intimidated by their intense stares.
- KLAX
I … uh, I told them you were passing on master.
- WHITE (sighs)
And why would you think they would understand what that means to you and I?
- KLAX (worried)
I suppose I made a false assumption master.
- ZARAH (angry)
Wait, so I came all the way out here and the old man isn't even dying a little bit?
Everyone but the gods look around in confusion at the voice from nowhere; Light immediately looks up with a grin. ZARAH stands on the ceiling above them as if held there by a reverse gravity, she looks a bit older and more mature but otherwise the same with her giant cleaver-sword and red cape.
- ZARAH
Heck, I'll do the deed for free if you want it done, you old fart.
Sorrow is the first to realize where Zarah is, and calmly points her out to the others.
- REINA (scared)
Ah! Where did she come from?
- KLAX
That won't be necessary Mrs. Zarah.
- WHITE (warm smile)
Lovely, we're all together now!
- ZARAH (smirk, to Reina)
It's not surprising that you didn't see me come in.
- DRUNK
I saw you come in lass. You're fast, but not that fast.
- SORROW
That is a lie father.
- TEAL
EVERYONE STOP!
The others turn to Teal now, who glares them all into silence before any dare to speak. She looks to White.
- TEAL
So what does it mean? Pass on? I'm glad you're not dying, but then why have you gathered us all here? I know the Drunk and his boy from the tavern, and I knew you were teaching Klax, but who is the woman above us?
- ZARAH
Zarah, best damn assassin in the world.
- DRUNK
I've met better assassins, by far.
- SORROW
That is another lie father.
Teal narrows her eyes and points a finger up at Zarah.
- TEAL
Are you admitting I have reason to arrest you, half-human?
- REINA (worried)
Teal!
- ZARAH
I'd like to see you try, fatty.
- KLAX
Oh dear.
The Drunk takes a hold of Sorrow by his shoulder and backs up a few steps to stand beside Klax.
- TEAL (darkly)
What did you say to me, half-human?
- ZARAH (smirks)
You didn't hear me? I've killed fat old merchants who were slimmer than you. Better looking, too.
Teal reaches for her maul and shield, and Zarah's eyes glint in excitement as she puts a hand on the grip of her cleaver-sword. Before they can start anything though, White puts a hand out to each with his palms facing them.
- WHITE
Be at peace.
A shockwave seems to burst from his hands, causing a shimmer in the air as it passes over everyone. White smiles as Teal and Zarah visibly calm down and stop.
- WHITE
I don't want any of you to fight. You are all special to me, so I expect you all to get along. As long as you are in my house, you will not fight. Do you understand?
Both Teal and Zarah nod, and White sighs.
- WHITE
You are all like family to me, so to answer your question Miss Teal, I wanted you here when I pass on. I will not be dead exactly, but I will be gone, perhaps forever. I will certainly not be able to see you all again, hence this final goodbye.
- DRUNK
You're still making little sense lad. Are we to treat you as dying or not?
- DAMNED
They will understand it if you say you are dying.
- WHITE (nods)
Perhaps that would be best.
- LIGHT (chides Damned)
Don't make him look mad by talking to him!
- SORROW (to White)
Father, please explain passing on to me.
- WHITE
I will leave my body behind and become a being of pure positive energy, which will allow me to travel to places far removed from this one.
- KLAX (interjects)
But it's not simple planar travel!
- WHITE
Thank you Klax, that is true. I have traveled to other planes before, all those I could reach as a mortal. But there are planes beyond that, far beyond, whole other planar systems in fact … well, you would need to know a lot more about the planes to understand more, but more is not necessary. Suffice it to say that I am going somewhere very far away, and it will take me a very long time to get there, so I must become something else to survive the journey.
- DRUNK (wonder)
You're going to become immortal lad?
- WHITE
No. Even the energy that I become will dissipate with time. It will be a constant struggle, and after a few eons I will surely be unable to keep myself together. But what I might see in that time will be worth it. Can you imagine it? I know there are other places out there, with different people, different gods, different everything! What I want to see more than anything is a world in which science rules absolute, a place where superstition and lies lay dead and forgotten.
- ZARAH
So you're going to leave us behind old man?
A single tear slides up Zarah's face as she scowls. Teal begins to cry again as she puts her head back down on the bed, and the Drunk takes another swig from his hip flask.
- ZARAH
I thought I would introduce you to my children some day old man.
- KLAX (surprised)
Are you and Jorg … expecting?
- ZARAH
Thank Light no! But … some day, maybe. If I ever feel like getting fat and stupid.
- WHITE
Zarah my dear, please, make time for children.
- ZARAH
Yeah, sure old man, some day.
Zarah begins to sniffle and cry more, so hides her face with her cape, and White looks down at Teal.
- WHITE
And you, don't work so hard.
Teal nods without looking up, and White looks to Sorrow.
- WHITE
When Klax is able, have him take you home, at least once.
Sorrow nods and White looks to Klax.
- WHITE (sternly)
Keep up with your studies!
- KLAX
Yes master.
- WHITE (to Reina)
Don't wait forever, find him!
- REINA (sadly)
Sir, it is our tradition.
- WHITE
I give you permission to break from tradition.
White turns to the Drunk before Reina can respond, and the two grin at each other.
- WHITE
If we're lucky, you and I might meet again some day.
- DRUNK
I doubt it. You won't come back.
- WHITE
For most it would be impossible, but you I believe could follow me.
- DRUNK
Goodbye old friend.
White smiles as he begins to glow brighter and brighter, as if all the positive energy in the world was gathering around him. For a moment there is nothing besides the light, and then it fades again. Everything is as it was, but Light and the Damned God are gone and White's head lolls, the life gone from his body. Teal begins to loudly weep, Klax sits on the spot and hides his head in his knees and Zarah disappears after she throws a small smoke bomb at the ceiling.
- DRUNK (to Sorrow)
You know, I once traveled here from a far off plane.
- SORROW
Father, that is your third lie. You are drunk.
This small cozy cabin has only the necessities of an old contemplative: a simple single bed, a handmade wooden table, two matching chairs and an area for preparing food. Candles that have been set up on every available space give the room a holy feel. WHITE sits up in his bed chatting amicably with LIGHT, who stands beside him with a warm, sad smile; the DAMNED GOD sits on the foot of the bed and faces away from the two with a scowl. White has never looked older.
- WHITE (calmly)
I'm not scared.
- LIGHT (nods)
Nor should you be.
- DAMNED (angry)
I still say we need him here!
- WHITE
You have the children to aid you.
- LIGHT
You are the godspeaker White. You always have been and always will be.
- WHITE
Klax would make an excellent replacement. He has grown into a fine man, and is far more holy than I.
- DAMNED
That weakling has pledged himself to Light. Now if he had kept his options open like his friend …
- LIGHT
And the opposite goes for young Sorrow. No mortal who follows one god exclusively may be a godspeaker.
- WHITE (chuckles)
Is that the first time you have told me one of the rules of being godspeaker?
- LIGHT
We will miss your laughter White.
- DAMNED
Forget laughter, I will miss his power! There has always been precious few healers, especially since their cult disbanded.
- WHITE
My body has begun to consistently fail me. I can barely hobble around the room, let alone travel.
- DAMNED
There are ways, you know. Ways I could teach you, that would keep your body working.
- LIGHT (sharply)
Damned!
Light had turned to the Damned God with a rare frown, but White waves a hand dismissively.
- WHITE (to Damned)
I know what you speak of, and I could muddle my way through without your help, but why should I? Why should I stay here, in this world that doesn't need me?
Light and the Damned God share a meaningful glance, then Light turns back to White as the Damned God scowls again and turns away.
- LIGHT
We will miss you White.
- WHITE (slowly)
Why? Why does the god of death offer me a way to -
A sudden KNOCK comes at the door, to which White sighs.
- WHITE (shout)
Come in!
KLAX enters the cabin, a modestly-handsome Small Folk man in a well-fitted priest's tunic.
- KLAX
Pardon me master, but we are all here.
- WHITE (warmly)
Excellent! Have them come in, and tell everyone to mind the candles.
KLAX nods, and exits again. White turns to Light and the Damned God with a surprised look.
- WHITE
Normally you two would have disappeared when someone else was around.
- LIGHT
We don't need to disappear anymore. And we'd like to stay for this, if you don't mind.
- DAMNED (nods)
Your eyes are too old and wise to be fooled by our glamor anymore.
Klax re-enters before White can respond, with SORROW and the DRUNK right behind him. Sorrow now looks like a teen of around 15, and wears black-dyed leather armor draped with plenty of knives and a pair of scythe-like kama at his waist, while the Drunk looks exactly the same and has removed his furs in respect for the candles, leaving him in only an old pair of breeches.
- DRUNK (surprised)
I haven't seen you often enough lad, you've gotten so old, so fast!
REINA enters behind the Drunk, and looks a little bothered by his near-nakedness, and TEAL closes the door as she enters last. Reina has the white skin of a shape-shifter but a human body, she wears a long fancy dress that tends to subtly shift and change, while Teal is now a grown woman in thick armor that looks to be made from bark plates, with a shield on her back and a maul at her hip. Sorrow walks over to stand beside White first and places a hand on his forehead.
- SORROW
May the Damned God bring you peace from pain.
Almost as if this benediction was the permission they were waiting for, the rest crowd around White's bed, except for Klax who seems a bit confused. None of them seem able to see Light and the Damned God, but all the same they avoid them. Teal tries to look strong as she bends down on one knee beside the bed, but then rests her head against the bed as tears start to flow from her eyes; Reina stands behind her and pats her back comfortingly. Sorrow looks over at the Drunk, who takes a swig from a hip flask as tears flow unstopped from his eyes.
- SORROW (to the Drunk)
Father, please explain to me whether you are sad or happy.
- DRUNK
Sad of course!
- SORROW
But father will soon shed his mortal pain at the Damned God's side.
- DRUNK
True my lad, but he will be apart from us.
Klax walks closer to the others with a worried look.
- KLAX
Pardon me, but I think I may have miss-communicated something. You see, Master White is not -
- WHITE
I'm not dying! Who said I was dying?
Teal and the Drunk suddenly stop blubbering and look up, then along with Sorrow and Reina turn to face Klax, who seems somewhat intimidated by their intense stares.
- KLAX
I … uh, I told them you were passing on master.
- WHITE (sighs)
And why would you think they would understand what that means to you and I?
- KLAX (worried)
I suppose I made a false assumption master.
- ZARAH (angry)
Wait, so I came all the way out here and the old man isn't even dying a little bit?
Everyone but the gods look around in confusion at the voice from nowhere; Light immediately looks up with a grin. ZARAH stands on the ceiling above them as if held there by a reverse gravity, she looks a bit older and more mature but otherwise the same with her giant cleaver-sword and red cape.
- ZARAH
Heck, I'll do the deed for free if you want it done, you old fart.
Sorrow is the first to realize where Zarah is, and calmly points her out to the others.
- REINA (scared)
Ah! Where did she come from?
- KLAX
That won't be necessary Mrs. Zarah.
- WHITE (warm smile)
Lovely, we're all together now!
- ZARAH (smirk, to Reina)
It's not surprising that you didn't see me come in.
- DRUNK
I saw you come in lass. You're fast, but not that fast.
- SORROW
That is a lie father.
- TEAL
EVERYONE STOP!
The others turn to Teal now, who glares them all into silence before any dare to speak. She looks to White.
- TEAL
So what does it mean? Pass on? I'm glad you're not dying, but then why have you gathered us all here? I know the Drunk and his boy from the tavern, and I knew you were teaching Klax, but who is the woman above us?
- ZARAH
Zarah, best damn assassin in the world.
- DRUNK
I've met better assassins, by far.
- SORROW
That is another lie father.
Teal narrows her eyes and points a finger up at Zarah.
- TEAL
Are you admitting I have reason to arrest you, half-human?
- REINA (worried)
Teal!
- ZARAH
I'd like to see you try, fatty.
- KLAX
Oh dear.
The Drunk takes a hold of Sorrow by his shoulder and backs up a few steps to stand beside Klax.
- TEAL (darkly)
What did you say to me, half-human?
- ZARAH (smirks)
You didn't hear me? I've killed fat old merchants who were slimmer than you. Better looking, too.
Teal reaches for her maul and shield, and Zarah's eyes glint in excitement as she puts a hand on the grip of her cleaver-sword. Before they can start anything though, White puts a hand out to each with his palms facing them.
- WHITE
Be at peace.
A shockwave seems to burst from his hands, causing a shimmer in the air as it passes over everyone. White smiles as Teal and Zarah visibly calm down and stop.
- WHITE
I don't want any of you to fight. You are all special to me, so I expect you all to get along. As long as you are in my house, you will not fight. Do you understand?
Both Teal and Zarah nod, and White sighs.
- WHITE
You are all like family to me, so to answer your question Miss Teal, I wanted you here when I pass on. I will not be dead exactly, but I will be gone, perhaps forever. I will certainly not be able to see you all again, hence this final goodbye.
- DRUNK
You're still making little sense lad. Are we to treat you as dying or not?
- DAMNED
They will understand it if you say you are dying.
- WHITE (nods)
Perhaps that would be best.
- LIGHT (chides Damned)
Don't make him look mad by talking to him!
- SORROW (to White)
Father, please explain passing on to me.
- WHITE
I will leave my body behind and become a being of pure positive energy, which will allow me to travel to places far removed from this one.
- KLAX (interjects)
But it's not simple planar travel!
- WHITE
Thank you Klax, that is true. I have traveled to other planes before, all those I could reach as a mortal. But there are planes beyond that, far beyond, whole other planar systems in fact … well, you would need to know a lot more about the planes to understand more, but more is not necessary. Suffice it to say that I am going somewhere very far away, and it will take me a very long time to get there, so I must become something else to survive the journey.
- DRUNK (wonder)
You're going to become immortal lad?
- WHITE
No. Even the energy that I become will dissipate with time. It will be a constant struggle, and after a few eons I will surely be unable to keep myself together. But what I might see in that time will be worth it. Can you imagine it? I know there are other places out there, with different people, different gods, different everything! What I want to see more than anything is a world in which science rules absolute, a place where superstition and lies lay dead and forgotten.
- ZARAH
So you're going to leave us behind old man?
A single tear slides up Zarah's face as she scowls. Teal begins to cry again as she puts her head back down on the bed, and the Drunk takes another swig from his hip flask.
- ZARAH
I thought I would introduce you to my children some day old man.
- KLAX (surprised)
Are you and Jorg … expecting?
- ZARAH
Thank Light no! But … some day, maybe. If I ever feel like getting fat and stupid.
- WHITE
Zarah my dear, please, make time for children.
- ZARAH
Yeah, sure old man, some day.
Zarah begins to sniffle and cry more, so hides her face with her cape, and White looks down at Teal.
- WHITE
And you, don't work so hard.
Teal nods without looking up, and White looks to Sorrow.
- WHITE
When Klax is able, have him take you home, at least once.
Sorrow nods and White looks to Klax.
- WHITE (sternly)
Keep up with your studies!
- KLAX
Yes master.
- WHITE (to Reina)
Don't wait forever, find him!
- REINA (sadly)
Sir, it is our tradition.
- WHITE
I give you permission to break from tradition.
White turns to the Drunk before Reina can respond, and the two grin at each other.
- WHITE
If we're lucky, you and I might meet again some day.
- DRUNK
I doubt it. You won't come back.
- WHITE
For most it would be impossible, but you I believe could follow me.
- DRUNK
Goodbye old friend.
White smiles as he begins to glow brighter and brighter, as if all the positive energy in the world was gathering around him. For a moment there is nothing besides the light, and then it fades again. Everything is as it was, but Light and the Damned God are gone and White's head lolls, the life gone from his body. Teal begins to loudly weep, Klax sits on the spot and hides his head in his knees and Zarah disappears after she throws a small smoke bomb at the ceiling.
- DRUNK (to Sorrow)
You know, I once traveled here from a far off plane.
- SORROW
Father, that is your third lie. You are drunk.
White is actually one of my own PC characters, from a 3.5 one-shot campaign I played in. He wore white robes, had white hair, was white ... er, caucasian. And he was a Healer, a class from the Miniatures Handbook. For some reason a lot of my old favorite characters are from that book, most notably the Warhulk known only as Big Axe Bob. Anyway, White used a slingshot, which he could load with a bullet that could store his healing spells and thus heal people at a distance (after the one point of damage from the bullet) and I was really looking forward to a spell that could let me do the same without relying on the slingshot. I suppose giving this White rituals was sort of a 4E cheat, but then I like 4E.
This is a part of my High War project, a story about people in a D&D-inspired world that I have tried very hard to make my own. I really don't want to step on anyone's copyright toes here, which to some degree is not easy at all. I have no idea where that preview image comes from, as far as I know it came from a free image site, and if you would say otherwise then please tell me so I can take it down. This will be a story for somewhat mature audiences, there will be occasional violence, language and adult themes ... but because I want everyone to be able to read it I am leaving the mature content filter off for now. Thanks for understanding, and if you don't then I would be happy to talk to you about my thoughts on the issue.
First: [link]
Next (and the beginning of the story proper!) : [link]
This is a part of my High War project, a story about people in a D&D-inspired world that I have tried very hard to make my own. I really don't want to step on anyone's copyright toes here, which to some degree is not easy at all. I have no idea where that preview image comes from, as far as I know it came from a free image site, and if you would say otherwise then please tell me so I can take it down. This will be a story for somewhat mature audiences, there will be occasional violence, language and adult themes ... but because I want everyone to be able to read it I am leaving the mature content filter off for now. Thanks for understanding, and if you don't then I would be happy to talk to you about my thoughts on the issue.
First: [link]
Next (and the beginning of the story proper!) : [link]
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