VYCE: Are you daft? We didn't come all this way to listen to you spout nonsense. We are not the enemy! Or are you so taken with your Galgastani masters you have forgotten?
CATIUA: There's no call for such rancor, Vyce. We should hear them out.
OLD MAN: Suppose we do fight. What then? conflict will only lead to more suffering. At least here the winds of war do not howl in our ears, and our stomachs do not grumble.
VYCE: Shelter, fodder - you enjoy all the luxuries of cattle. Doubtless you will so long as you remain. But do you not long to be free? To live as men? You are Walister! Where is your pride?
OLD WOMAN: Leave as you came. Let us live out our lives in peace. Today it's the Resistance, tomorrow who-knows-what, but you all sing the same tune. My son sounded much as you do - the war claimed him six months ago. Will your violence bring him back?
OLD MAN: We want no part of your fight. You're doomed to fail, any road. Galgastan is too powerul. Heroes you may be, but the pride always comes before the fall!
[The door opens and Leonar steps in, seriousness engraved on his face.]
LEONAR: Forgive me, I was delayed. Might I have a quiet word?
[He leads Denam out into the rain. Flashes of lightning pierce the sky.]
LEONAR: I overheard your conversation. These people do not convince easily. No matter. We feared it would come to this. Listen to me. There's something you must do. You must...you must kill them. All of them. Spare no one.
DENAM: What!?
LEONAR: The duke foreknew this outcome. These are his orders.
DENAM: But why this? If you know even one reason, I would hear it!
LEONAR: Because his grace...demands it.
[Leonar recalls a private audience with Ronwey to Denam.]
RONWEY: If the people of Balmamusa rise up as we ask, well and good. But the words of these children will not be enough to move them to take up arms. When they refuse, you are to kill them under guise of Galgastani agents. Leave no survivors.
[Leonar pushes back his chair.]
LEONAR: You can't be serious! You order us to kill our own!
RONWEY: Calm, Leonar. You've a good head on your shoulders. Consider our situation. If we are to defeat Galgastan, the Walister must unite as never before. If it appears the Galgastani destroyed Balmamusa, our people in the remaining camps will rally to our banner.
LEONAR: But...your Grace...
RONWEY: Nor will opposition in the Galgastani ranks remain unmoved by such outrage. Balbatos will be beset by foes without and within. we will finally have both the opportunity and the moral imperative to rid the world of the creature.
LEONAR: Denam and the others will not do this quietly.
RONWEY: You will see to that as well, when the time comes.
[Leonar finishes retelling of the Duke's words to a shocked Denam.]
LEONAR: You are with me then? It is the only way. The future of our people depends on it!
[Choice 1 - I understand.]
DENAM: I see what must be done. I will bloody my hands.
LEONAR: Don't worry. We'll not let their sacrifice be in vain.
[Ravness, Vyce and Catiua rush out of the building to confront Denam.]
VYCE: Denam, are you mad? You're going to go along with this!?
RAVNESS: The duke gave such an order, Leonar? And you would carry it out?
DENAM: Open your eyes. We cannot win if we are unwilling to dirty our hands.
LEONAR: ours is to follow orders. I swore an oath before the Duke. Before the realm.
[Vyce moves to face Denam.]
VYCE: Listen to you! If I closed my eyes, I'd think I spoke with a Galgastani!
RAVNESS: The duke would sacrifice these people as a piece in some great game. Our lord has betrayed us all. To think I was willing to give my life for such a man. What a fool I was.
LEONAR: Then you stand apart, Vyce? You will not join us?
VYCE: Damn right! These people have done nothing. Where [sic] the justice in killing them!?
[Leonar turns cooly to Ravness.]
LEONAR: I did not think you one to abdicate duty, Ravness. To break faith with lord and realm.
RAVNESS: I break no faith. I renounce the Duke.... I renounce you all!
LEONAR: I always thought to find you at my side the day the Walister won their freedom. But if men of our own blood would stand against us, why should I expect more of you?
RAVNESS: Am I not Walister?
LEONAR: Walister descended from Galgastani stock. But the fault is mine. I should not have placed such faith in one of mingled blood!
RAVNESS: How dare you!
LEONAR: Every victory comes at a price. Can't you see that? People are dullwits! The sacrifice must be great to wake them from their languor!
[Suddenly Leonar slices at Vyce, who only barely escapes the knight's sword.]
VYCE: And you, Catiua? Will you follow in this madness?
[Catiua hesitates then steps forward.]
CATIUA: I...I will ever stand with Denim!
[Vyce shakes his head in disbelief, leaps down a small cliff and bounds away. He turns to look at his former friends.]
VYCE: From this day, you and I are enemies!
[Before Denam can respond, the voices of Galgastani soldiers are heard from above.]
SOLDIER: Kill them all! No rebel leaves this place alive!
LEONAR (to Denam): Galgastani reinforcements - deal with them. Leave the townsfolk to me!
[Leonar flees, leaving a torn and isolated Ravness alone while Denam prepares for battle.]
[Choice 2 - Stop this lunacy!]
DENAM: Stop this madness! What virtue can there be in taking innocent lives!?
LEONAR: You are yet young.... Your heart is pristine, though I daresay your hands have seen their share of bloodshed. All that is required of you is to plunge those hands deeper. Bloody them not for survival, but for your cause. If you cannot do that, you do not belong in this battle!
[Leonar forces Denam to the ground just as Vyce and Catiua burst outside.]
CATIUA: Denam!
[She rushes to Denam but is held back by Ravness.]
CATIUA: Denam, are you all right? Vyce, with us, quickly! Vyce? What are you waiting - No...!
LEONAR: Kill them, Vyce. All three of them!
[Vyce advances on his friends.]
VYCE: What good are kinsmen who won't lift arms for our cause? I'll tell you. They're as good as dead. If it's retribution you fear, fear not - they'll all be in their graves, thanking you for martyring them!
CATIUA: I don't believe what I am hearing! If this is a jest, it is in terrible humor!
VYCE: Quiet, Catiua! You've made a fool of me long enough. You as well, Denam! You...you vex me. Always have! What ever gave you the right to command me!
RAVNESS: Leonar, I cannot believe such an order came from his Grace! And you would see this madness through!?
LEONAR: I would see through any of his grace's decrees, as his loyal servant - no, as a loyal servant to our people.
RAVNESS: You'd call such bloodshed "service"? Since when have we used our kinsmen's lives as leverage? Our lord has betrayed us all. To think I was willing to give my life for such a man. What a fool I was.
LEONAR: I did not think you one to abdicate duty, Ravness. To break faith with lord and realm.
RAVNESS: I break no faith. I renounce the Duke.... I renounce you all!
LEONAR: I always thought to find you at my side the day the Walister won their freedom. But if men of our own blood would stand against us, why should I expect more of you?
RAVNESS: Am I not Walister?
LEONAR: Walister descended from Galgastani stock. But the fault is mine. I should not have placed such faith in one of mingled blood!
RAVNESS: How dare you!
[Leonar turns to spy the Walister troops dressed in Galgastani garb.]
FALSE GALGASTANI: Hear me, fierce warriors of Galgastan! We made this province to give shape to the peace we all want. Yet Ronwey in Almorica and his rabble have trampled upon that peace, and lifted their swords once again. We will not sit here and wait for death to visit us! We'll show them what it means to be Galgastani! Root out the Walister in town and butcher them like swine they are! Leave not one alive! To battle!
LEONAR: Vyce, to me! Leave this to the others. We take the town!
[Leonar and Vyce dash off to join the fake Galgastani troops.]
RAVNESS: Wait...Leonar! Vyce!
[Vyce turns and unleashes a crossbow bolt directly at Ravness. She falls.]
VYCE: Heel, Ravness. You yap like the mongrel you are!
RAVNESS: Leonar...do not think you can escape...judgement for your deeds.
[She falls. Denam and Catiua have little time to mourn as the false Galgastani advance on the town.]
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