Redemption, or the Breaking of Mekhane
By Kallikrates
Dramatis Personae
FRAGMENT OF TRUTH, narrator - face hidden by mask of bronze
YALDABAOTH, depicted on stage in effigy; speaks via offstage chorus
ARCHONS I-VI, servitors of YALDABAOTH - disguised by tentacle masks
MEKHANE, disguised by mask and crown of bronze
ATOM, the first man - disguised by mask of hope
NOREA, the first woman - disguised by mask of wisdom
Scene
At the court of YALDABAOTH within the kenoma. ARCHONS, six in number, dance in circles around YALDABAOTH.
TRUTH
How well it suits all mortal kin, on the subject of chaos, to say that it is darkness;
Yet most fail to see [several words illegible] this darkness - in that it is a shadow.
And the shadow is cast by an entity that has existed since the beginning
[line illegible]
That which projects chaos, the first horror - we name YALDABAOTH.
[stanza illegible]
[line illegible]
And as the dread theophage feasted, he exhaled life,
[TRUTH points to the audience]
You, his mortal progeny, hidebound and trapped in the eternal quagmire -
An unclean genesis in the primordial seas of sarkic pollution.
And from sickly pools and fever dreams did arise humanity.
A people as blind, as lost, as their creator.
The first people lived in a state of [illegible]
[line illegible]
Of eons [rest of line illegible]
NOREA and ATOM - they who asked the first and holiest of questions:
"Why?"
ARCHONS dance from the stage, I-III to the left, IV-VI to the right. Effigy of YALDABAOTH is hoisted skywards, its tendrils are to remain visible. NOREA and ATOM enter from stage right; both fall to their knees and raise their arms to the heavens.
ATOM
Why do we suffer?
NOREA
Why do we weep?
ATOM
Why are we bound?
NOREA
Why are we weak?
YALDABAOTH
Iahaakl'dhruxr otrithr'zhur yavicn'thaxz.
ARCHON I enters stage left.
ARCHON I
Still your tongues.
ARCHON IV enters stage right.
ARCHON IV
And bow your heads.
ARCHON II enters stage left.
ARCHON II
Give us blood.
ARCHON V enters stage right.
ARCHON V
And give us flesh.
ARCHON III enters stage left.
ARCHON III
Have you forgotten your place?
ARCHON VI enters stage right. All ARCHONS should now encircle ATOM and NOREA.
ARCHON VI
For it is we who rule in majesty.
ATOM and ATOM (in unison)
We wish to know the truth!
ARCHON I
You will know only suffering and tears.
ARCHON IV
Only [illegible] and rape.
ARCHON II
You are nothing.
ARCHON V
Insignificant.
ARCHON III
A mere speck.
ARCHON VI
And we are great and vast.
The ARCHONS draw closer, obscuring NOREA and ATOM from the view of the audience. Torches are extinguished, darkening the stage. YALDABAOTH (chorus) whispers chaos words. TRUTH raises a lantern, allowing the audience to see her. Musician strums a sorrowful harmony via lyre.
YALDABAOTH
Yocxiogn'thor…
TRUTH
They were no longer strangers to his powers.
YALDABAOTH
Ghaax'vhas…
TRUTH
And they served him in fear and slavery.
YALDABAOTH
Aiuvhaathrh'mil…
TRUTH
After these events their hearts darkened,
YALDABAOTH
Zhaioth'zhoxz…
TRUTH
And they slept and dreamed our mortal nightmare.
Torches are lit, revealing ATOM and NOREA at center stage. Both are on their knees with NOREA covering her face with her hands and ATOM raising his arms skyward, as if pleading. They are both disguised by mournful masks.
[illegible but presumably TRUTH]
[stanza illegible]
It was ATOM who prayed for [illegible].
It was NOREA who prayed for illumination.
YALDABAOTH remained indifferent,
While the ARCHONS laughed.
But one did hear their prayers;
From beyond the stars and the outer dark,
SHE arrived.
Enter MEKHANE, lowered to the stage by crane. Triumphant music is performed. Wait for applause.
MEKHANE
[Fragment missing; the remainder appears to have been torn from the scroll and has yet to be recovered.]
Jadikira
By Antiochis
Dramatis Personae
GALENUS, Militants-Faithful
AGATHON, Militants-Faithful
PHAROAH RAMESSES III, King of Egypt
PRINCE YIKASHATA, son of KING JADIKIRA and heir to the Minoan throne
AESCHYLUS, Mycenaean mercenary-captain
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA, Militants-Faithful
LABAMAS, Hittite ambassador and representative of King Suppiluliuma II
OSTANES, [Persian] sorcerer and alchemist
PATRIARCH GENNADIUS, Inventors-Faithful
PATRIARCH METROPHANES, Legates-Faithful
LYSISTRATA, Loviatur, Sarkic Witch of Adytum, disguised as Sibylline Oracle
KING JADIKIRA, King of the Minoans
LORD ARUDARA, Minoan noble and Sarkite conspirator
Scene I
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA and AGATHON pray together within the Temple of MEKHANE. Enter GALENUS.
GALENUS
Dearest Matriarch - I've no wish to disturb
But the call has been answered and those,
Friend and former foe, journey now the stormy sea.
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA
Praise the Sundered God! And from where do they sail?
GALENUS
From the Kingdom of Dark Sands both old and new, sails King Rhamesses III - an ally true. He brings with him the apparatus of Saint Imuthes.
Aeschylus of Athens and his warrior band pledge themselves to our cause - for as long as gold and silver flows.
The denizens of the Many Pillared City, secret and strange, offer [fragment illegible]
AGATHON stands, sword in hand
AGATHON
We have no need of those heathens. Fire and bronze will triumph over THE FLESH! What fool requested their aid?
Enter OSTANES
OSTANES
It was I who called upon them! We will require many allies in the coming days. Such zealotry will become our doom.
AGATHON
Bah! They care only for [fragment illegible]
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA
And who stands with THE FLESH?
GALENUS
I fear they have amassed a great and terrible legion. They have allies among the eastern barbarians. The Cimmerians and Phrygians have rallied under their blood-red banner.
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA
What of Thrace? Will they heed our call?
GALENUS
GALENUS sighs
No. When the Sarkic hordes invaded Lydia, I feared that Thrace would soon follow. The Thracian people have sacrificed their own chiefs to their new god - their false savior!
AGATHON
But surely the Storm Priests stand with us!
OSTANES
Who do you think orchestrated the revolution? Have you not heard of Zalmoxis Your Enemy has many names across a multitude of realms.
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA
But why would they join those monsters?
OSTANES
Is that all you can see? They look like monsters to you? You who tear away the flesh and replace it with bronze? If you cannot bring yourself to understand the enemy, you will know only failure. Your forces will be as shattered as your strangely absent deity.
AGATHON
Heresy! What side do you believe yourself on, sorcerer?
OSTANES
I have no side! Yet I offer you wisdom and you respond with the hubris of a fool! Whether or not you choose to heed my warnings matters little to me. Perhaps I should offer my skills to those who would appreciate them. My only desire is that this conflict is brought to an end.
AGATHON raises his blade
MATRIARCH EUPRAXIA
That is enough Agathon! Leave this temple immediately! If it is blood you desire, then seek it on the battlefield!
AGATHON
Know that I will be watching you, Ostanes!
AGATHON sheaths his sword and exits stage right
End of Scene I
[Scenes II and III missing; beginning at Scene IV]
Scene IV
KING JADIKIRA sits upon his throne while LYSISTRATA whispers in his ear; PRINCE YIKASHATA and PATRIARCH METROPHANES enter stage left
PRINCE YIKASHATA
Father! The people loot the vaults of our ancestors! Without our treasure, our titles will be without meaning; without our authority, our lands will be without order - all our kingdom shall come to ruin! Why have you allowed this?
KING JADIKIRA
Such is my decree!
PATRIARCH METROPHANES
My liege, such actions disrupt the balance. Each gear must serve its purpose and know its place! You have allowed commoners to seek vengeance on the nobility. Would you doom civilization to this anarchy? It goes against the will of the divine! The gods will…
KING JADIKIRA
The gods play games with mortal hearts. I've had quite enough of their influence!
PATRIARCH METROPHANES
But you are fated to serve MEKHANE! It is written in the Schema!
KING JADIKIRA
I never served your god. I choose the life of the Fateless! My destiny is my own! And what I do, I do for the good of my people! For the redemption of my soul!
PRINCE YIKASHATA
Time is an uncaring mistress. She has rendered you a crooked wretch. Your neck bends like a vulture's beneath the weight of your crown! And look upon the axe of our ancestors as it gathers dust beside your throne. Disgraceful! Can your old bones even carry the ancient symbol of your station?
But I could forgive and forget and serve you until death, were your mind not so addled as well!
KING JADIKIRA
I am aware of your black ambition. You plot with cultists and mainland barbarians in your incessant quest to seize the throne! Lysistrata has revealed your machinations, as twisted as the infernal machines of your conspirators! Guards! Arrest my son! And banish his allies from my land. I am in search of redemption and I will have it!
PRINCE YIKASHATA
You are unfit to wear that crown father! You would exile your only heir?
KING JADIKIRA
You fool! The throne you covet shall be no more! I, King Jadikira, abolish all titles! This land will never know a king again! I free my people from the tyranny you intend!
PRINCE YIKASHATA pulls a dagger from his toga and stabs KING JADIKIRA through the heart
LYSISTRATA
My king!
LYSISTRATA kneels over KING JADIKIRA
PRINCE YIKASHATA
Your king stands before you! Long live King Yikashata!
PATRIARCH METROPHANES
Your king has spoken, Lysistrata!
PATRIARCH METROPHANES kneels before YIKASHATA
PRINCE YIKASHATA
Indeed! And you will have much to answer for, oracle! It was you who poisoned my father against me. Guards! Remove her from my sight and prepare for her execution!
LYSISTRATA
You stand against forces you cannot possibly comprehend! You would sacrifice your people for the smallest mote of power!
LYSISTRATA is dragged away by guards
Scene V
PRINCE YIKASHATA sits upon his father's throne, surrounded by nobles and Mekhanite priests; LABAMAS and OSTANES enter stage right.
PRINCE YIKASHATA
So Suppiluliuma's emmisary arrives at last!
LABAMAS
King Jadikira? I was expecting someone older.
PRINCE YIKASHATA
My father had fallen ill in recent months. He perished a mere few days ago. I, Yikashata, his son and only heir, have taken my rightful place upon the throne. You will address me just as you would him.
LABAMAS
So shall it be. King Suppiluliuma II sends his regards.
LABAMAS bows
PRINCE YIKASHATA
Let us speak of the reinforcements…
LABAMAS
There will be no reinforcements.
PRINCE YIKASHATA
What! Your lord promised us…
LABAMAS
We have none to spare. The campaign has changed. Thrace invades from the west. We cannot maintain two fronts while offering support to a third.
PRINCE YIKASHATA
Then your lord is an oath-breaker and shall suffer for his betrayal!
OSTANES shakes his head
LABAMAS
Suffer? Your people are fisherman and merchants - not warriors! You are famous for your wealth but
[several stanzas are illigible]
OSTANES
I have foreseen your future, Yikashata.
PRINCE YIKASHATA