THE GREEN KNIGHT - Part 2
20 Sided Stories
THE TWILIGHT SPACE
The Green Knight (Part 2)
Air Date: September 30, 2020
[The Twilight Space intro music.]
Kristin Couture: 20 Sided Stories has absolutely no affiliation with A24. It was the same in Part 1 and it’s the same in Part 2, ya hear?
[Intro crescendos.]
Recap |
[Intro music continues.]
Narrator: You unlock this door with a natural 20. Beyond it is another dimension—a dimension of sound, a dimension of dice, a dimension of mind.
Previously our heroes had one day left to find the green chapel and see through their end of the Green Knight’s game.
After a rowdy night in the tavern, they made their way through the woods, meeting a mystical fox, a mystical serpent, and now hold a mystical sword.
Will Stev the bard, Rebecca the knight, Elowyn the noble, and Merlin the sorcerer see their adventure through to the end? Or will dishonor overcome them?
You are about to enter THE TWILIGHT SPACE: The Green Knight (Part 2).
[Music cuts off with a shriek.]
The Green Knight - Part 2 |
[Sound warbles and fades in, a gentle chime underneath. Various marsh creatures cry out.]
Elowyn: I promise to put you to good use, my friend.
[Water ripples. The sword scrapes against the ground as Elowyn picks it up.]
Sage: Suddenly from the water!
[The scitalis shoots up, hissing.]
The serpent, the scitalis, has revealed itself and flashes right at her as she picks up this sword!
Rebecca: Oh no!
Merlin: Don’t look at it, whatever you do!
Elowyn: [pained] My eyes!
Rebecca: [frantic] Make it look at itself! Make it look at itself! Make it look at itself!
Stev: Close your eyes and spin around, holding the sword out like a propeller!
Sage: Merlin, what’re you gonna do?
Merlin: With my far-reaching tendrils of mysticism, I will attempt to invade Elowyn’s defenseless mind.
[Travis snorts.]
And attempt to do something of a jumpstart!
Sage: [amused] The way you worded that means it’s a dishonorable action [chuckles].
Merlin: Very well.
[Emily chuckles.]
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: [amused] So you wanna roll over.
Merlin: 10.
Sage: Unfortunately…
[Dishonor chime.]
Merlin’s mysticism, while very good, is not strong enough to break through the spell of which this scitalis has manipulated Elowyn. She’s still frozen in her tracks. Sword in hand, but unable to use it.
Rebecca: I will Perform! I will get it’s attention.
[Travis snickers.]
Sage: [amused] You’re gonna roll Performance?
Jessica: [amused] Yes.
[Emily chuckles.]
Rebecca: I’m going to practice my act to distract.
Stev: Yeah, eh, nah. I get- I get behind that. All the world’s a stage! King Arthur said it himself.
[Stat test chime.]
[Dice roll on table.]
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Great. Rebecca Blacksmith…sing me a song.
[Travis snickers.]
Rebecca: [sings] Stoooop! Snaaake!
I am juicy pool of meat.
[Clicks tongue rhythmically.]
Ready to be eat…en.
[Clicks tongue.]
Give me your attention.
[Claps.]
I am yummy, yummy, yummy
In your tummy, tummy, tummy!
[Sage stifles laughter.]
[Water splashes as the scitalis turns around.]
Sage: And the scitalis turns around!
Rebecca: Oh, god!
Sage: And stares at you.
[Gentile chiming as the scitalis charms Rebecca.]
Rebecca: Ah…
Sage: Now Rebecca is stunned, blinded by its beauty.
[Music thrums. Rebecca groans as she fails to break the stun.]
Stev: Hey! Dumb fuckin’ snake! C’mere!
[He stoops down and snatches a rock.]
I slingshot you with this rock!
[Rocks clatter.]
He- uh- this is big. This one works. Okay, there we go! Uh…
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Roll for Ranged Combat.
[Dice roll on table.]
[Dishonor chime.]
You bonk the snake on the head and stop it in its tracks for but a moment.
Elowyn: Oh…my god [Emily chuckles]. Now I must strike!
Sage: Elowyn, seeing its back turned and the shiny most beautiful engravings on the other side of its body, she raises this new shiny sword she found…
[The sword scrapes against the ground as she lifts it and charges at the scitalis.]
And goes to make a strike!
[Elowyn roars as she runs.]
No hesitation. She slides down its back.
[Sword squelches into flesh.]
It's like butter.
Stev: Eww!
[Emily chuckles.]
Sage: This is the sharpest sword she’s ever seen! It screams in agony.
[The scitalis hisses and collapses into the marsh.]
And then sinks into the water.
Elowyn: Oh wow.
[Rebecca gasps as she breaks out of the stun.]
Sage: Blood fills the entire pool.
Merlin: Hooray!
Rebecca: Oh my god.
[Elowyn huffs.]
Stev: Wow.
Rebecca: That was, like, euphoric. And terrifying.
Elowyn: Well, I’m keeping this sword.
[She sheathes it.]
Rebecca: You’ve earned it. Great job, Elowyn.
Elowyn: Thank you. Thank you for your help.
Rebecca: My pleasure.
Stev: And great job you, Rebecca, doing your cool new act that got the snake to turn around!
Elowyn: Oh no! Did I miss it?
Rebecca: Yes.
Elowyn: [disappointed] Oh.
Rebecca: You did.
Stev: Well, in a sense. But also it’s the reason that you’re alive, so in a way, you didn’t. You- ’cause you certainly would’ve missed…it…more…had you…uh—
Elowyn: You have such a way with words, Stev.
Stev: Thank you.
[Jessica snickers.]
Elowyn: We have to go. We’re losing time.
Merlin: We’re out of time!
Stev: What? Oh, yeah. We gotta do the…
Elowyn: The Green Knight? Remember?
[Emily stifles laughter.]
Merlin: We were out of time when this started.
Stev: Alright, hey, I mean, who knew- who knew a big snake was gonna be here? But anyways…
Rebecca: This is why I never wanted to go see the Green Knight. I’m exhausted.
Sage: And we end the second encounter.
[Music thrums and fades.]
[Suspenseful music.]
It is time for judgement.
Dishonorable actions. You slayed this beautiful creature. +2 dishonor.
[Dishonor chime.]
[Jessica blows her lips in annoyance.]
Travis: [disappointed] Ah. Rats.
David: Ah.
Sage: You were lured by the shiny sword.
Emily: Oh.
Sage: I know it was for pragmatic means, but it lured you. +1.
[Dishonor chime.]
And none of you deliberately used another party member as a distraction, so go ahead and ignore that.
So I think that’s, in total, +2 dishonor for everybody, +3 for Elowyn.
Emily: Not gonna lie, you guys, it’s not good. It’s not good. Not good. We’re gonna see the Green Knight and this is bad [chuckles].
Sage: Honorable actions. If you assisted one of your fellows, -1.
[Honor chime.]
Travis: [pleased] Hey!
Sage: But, none of you lured the serpent away. It is dead, so you don’t get any honor for that [chuckles].
Travis: Snake or be snaked, am I right?
Emily: It’s a snake eat snake world.
Sage: 20 points of dishonor and you are removed from the adventure. So...how we doin’?
Elowyn: 17 [nervous chuckle].
Merlin: 13.
Stev: 12.
Rebecca: 13.
Sage: Alright. The closest is Elowyn. Does anybody want to use atonement to help out Elowyn before we proceed?
Merlin: Of course! This is very important. My pupil needs to have her mystics sponged.
Sage: Merlin, if you would like to use atonement to help Elowyn, you will need to add 3 points of dishonor while Elowyn loses just 1.
Jessica: Woof.
David: Yeah. Let’s do it.
Emily: Alright!
[Honor chime.]
Sage: So where you at now?
David: Uh, 16.
Emily: Oh, we’re both at 16. This is wonderful.
Sage: You’ve evened the playing field a little bit.
Merlin: The student has come equal to the master.
[Jessica and Travis stifle laughter.]
Sage: And thus the adventure shall continue.
[Music fades.]
[Mysterious music. Birds cry out as the group walks along a path.]
Sage: The sky opens up. It’s still overcast, but you can see that the day is coming to an end.
[Rebecca sighs wearily.]
And the forest is behind you.
Rebecca: We must be getting close.
Sage: It is sunset, the plains stretch out far and wide, but you can see on the other side, along the water, the green chapel.
[Elowyn stops for a moment to stare.]
Elowyn: There it is.
Stev: Wow.
Elowyn: We’ve made it.
[Rebecca lets out an impressed whistle.]
Stev: So, uh… [mumbles] Is he just kinda, like, hangin’ out in there or do we…
Rebecca: Maybe I should go in first, you know? He’s been dying to see me.
Elowyn: Well, I have a feeling that whatever his plan is, is probably how this is going to play out.
Rebecca: Hmm.
Stev: Welp! Let’s go die.
[The group moves forward again.]
Sage: And or heroes begin to walk across these plains. The ground is dried up and blackened. And as they get closer and closer, a mist, a fog, starts to roll in.
Rebecca: [disappointed] This is not very welcoming. Mm-mmm.
Elowyn: [nervous] I don’t like this.
Sage: Before you can inhale a sigh of relief from arriving on time, you feel all the fog in your lungs.
[Rebecca coughs.]
You can’t even see but an arms reach in front of you.
[Stev moans nervously. The others cough from the fog.]
Rebecca: [quiet] Oh my god.
Elowyn: This is…this is unnatural.
Sage: Another delay. +1 dishonor to the whole party.
David: Oh shit [snickers].
[The group staggers.]
Merlin: I feel faint and weak. My normally virile and youthful-feeling muscles are beginning to waver.
[Travis chuckles.]
I must glean what insights I can from this demonic fume!
[Rebecca burps.]
With my infinite pow— [sarcastic] Oh, that’s very nice. Thank you very much.
[Sage, Jessica, and Travis stifle laughter.]
With my deep, deep mystical wizardry!
Rebecca: This fog is causing my indigestion. I’m sorry!
Merlin: I’m looking into it!
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Honorably, Merlin, can you roll me Vigilance?
David: I’ve rolled a 14.
Sage: That is under.
[Honor chime.]
Merlin squints as hard as he can, and he’s barely able to peek through the fog. They’re not too far from the green chapel. They could get there very quickly. But he also sees…this boy…on his knees…holding a dagger…pointed at himself.
Merlin: [gasps] There’s a young man over there! He’s threatening his own body with a- a- with a weapon! It’s a young man with a weapon over there!
Rebecca: Oh my…
Stev: Well that’s not good.
Rebecca: Um…
Elowyn: E-excuse me?
Merlin: These are sorceries I have little reckoning of. But what is afoot is no doubt nefarious. We must intervene!
[Elowyn walks forward.]
Stev: Aright, if you say so.
Elowyn: Boy? A-are— Do you need help? Hello?
Sage: And then…at the sound of Elowyn’s voice, a banshee scream echoes over the plains!
[A banshee screams and Rebecca moans in pain. Elowyn and Merlin groan.]
Stev: [complaining] This is gonna give me tinnitus, then I’m never gonna be able to write songs.
[Jessica stifles laughter.]
And then it’s just all gonna be for kaput!
Elowyn: [warning] Stev!
Merlin: You couldn’t write songs to begin with.
[Stev gasps in indignation.]
Stev: How dare you! One of my songs saved your life!
Sage: [amused] +1 dishonor to Merlin for insulting Stev.
[Travis chuckles.]
David: Whatever.
Jessica: Oh shit. Be careful, Merlin.
Sage: Like catapulted bombs, a bunch of translucent spirits start flying through our party members!
[Spirits shriek. Rebecca moans in pain.]
Rebecca: Oh, god, ah!
Sage: With screams on each one!
Rebecca: Ow.
Stev: [complaining] Ah! This is uncomfortable.
[Elowyn moans in pain.]
Boy: [enthralled] I must make a sacrifice. They want me. They need my life force.
Rebecca: Who?
Stev: Whomst?
Merlin: Whomst, boy, whomst?
Boy: The spirits.
Sage: The boy, now slightly revealed from this obscured fog, turns his head slowly…to…our party. His eyes are bleeding.
Rebecca: [quiet] Oh my god.
Sage: He’s shivering.
Rebecca: [worried] Okay. Uh…
Sage: His mouth agape. His hair disheveled.
Elowyn: [worried] Drop the dagger.
Boy: They…want…me. And you’ll be next.
[A banshee flies past, shrieking.]
Stev: Ahh!
Rebecca: [pained] Oh my god.
[Merlin groans.]
Okay well, we have to s- we have to- we have to snap him out of it. He’s under a spell or something.
Elowyn: [sighs in thought] I must’ve heard tell of this. I- I do remember something about spectres and ghosts.
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Elowyn roll me folklore.
[Dice roll on table.]
Emily: [smug] Easy. That’s an 11.
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Coming from a long line of alleged Green Knight battlers, Lady Elowyn recalls a legend of spirits screaming and launching themselves like bombs. She looks to the green chapel, not too far off, and it starts to make sense.
[Banshee shrieks.]
They are tormented. They are embodying their very trauma. These are the lost souls of the Green Knight. The dishonorable ones.
[Rebecca gasps.]
Elowyn: [quiet] Oh my…
Rebecca: [quiet] Your brother…
Elowyn: These are the lost souls of those who could not best the Green Knight. Those with dishonor on their name.
Stev: Ah- hol- hol- hold on. Hold on. If- if he beats you…you die?!
[Sage stifles laughter.]
Rebecca: Uh, essentially.
Elowyn: [irked] What did you think—
Merlin: Yes!
Elowyn: —“Strike you down” meant?
Stev: I—
Merlin: Yes, of course it does!
Stev: I hit the guy with a mandolin! It’s not like I was gonna kill ’im! And now—
Merlin: He’s gonna hit a mandolin with you!
[Sage stifles laughter.]
Stev: This changes everything! I’m scared outta my goddamn mind!
Sage: These spirits feel great shame.
Stev: [fearful] Oh god.
Sage: Legend has it that those who have lost to the Green Knight never live it down in death. And therefore try to embody any young, honorable spirit that they can get their grasp on.
Rebecca: Shit.
Sage: Including this little boy, who has unluckily wandered in the plains.
Rebecca: [quiet, worried] Oh my god.
Stev: Ah, Jesus Christ. I don’t wanna die.
[Elowyn sighs.]
[fearful] Uh-oh.
[Banshees shriek.]
Merlin: I know of many things about the wizarding world, and about the mythical arts.
[Rebecca burbs.]
[Sage chuckles.]
Rebecca: [quiet] ’Scuse me.
Merlin: I will deduce a plan to get us out of here with minimal confrontation!
[Souls shriek.]
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Merlin, roll me Reason.
[Dice roll on table.]
David: 11.
[Honor chime.]
Emily: And I would like to give him Noble’s Favor, which on an honorable action, if he succeeds, I also get a point of honor.
[Honor chime.]
Jessica: Ooo.
David: Oh! Well I rolled an 11.
Jessica: Piggy back.
Sage: Fantastic. Successes all around.
Elowyn: Merlin! Come on, there has to be something in that brain. This is literally what we pay you for!
[Mystical music.]
Sage: From many a times spent within the great library back in Camelot, Merlin recalls his studies on the spirit world.
When ghosts are not at peace, they often resort to very turbulent natures. All of these lost souls are merely feeling shame. This boy is pure and they’re trying to latch onto him. If they somehow would feel confident again, then perhaps they’ll be mended.
Merlin: So I’ve figured it out! These ghosts, they are the fallen of the Green Knight’s treachery. That means that they are here embodying shame incarnate, and we must dispel that shame if we are to dispel the evil magic. And the only way we can amplify the bravery and the positive feelings present in these spirits, is with some mighty tunes!
[Travis snickers.]
Stev! I cannot believe I am about to say this, but the time has come for the song of songs! For the pep talks of pep talks. For the ultimate feel-good ballad of the year! It’s on you, Stev. You must restore the confidence—
[Stev pants in panic.]
—of all these wayward souls before this young boy is claimed by them and joins their ranks.
Stev: Oh…oka—
Merlin: [loud] You can do it, Stev! Don’t even think about it!
[Stev pants.]
You can do it, I promise! You can do it.
Stev: Uh—
Merlin: That’s why you’re here with us!
Stev: [nervous] Okay.
Merlin: It was foretold. Trust me, I’m a wizard.
[Stev pulls out his mandolin.]
Stev: [nervous] W-well, I might need a little backup, here. I don’t know…
[He strums quietly.]
Rebecca: Oh, I can help.
Stev: Okay. Alright.
[He fidgets with his mandolin.]
Merlin: It’s time to tap into your bardic powers!
Stev: [nervous] Okay.
[He blows a kazoo.]
Goes a little somethin’…like…this.
[He clears his throat and strums the mandolin.]
[sings] All of the ghosts in this open field
Need to stop tryin’ to kill this kid!
It’s not—
Rebecca, Stev: —your fault that you lost to the Green Knight
Really fuckin’ strong.
He’s really fuckin’ big.
If you leave without this boy
I promise you will find some joy.
Maybe not in this life
But the next, next, next life
[Beat.]
Ta da!
Merlin: Tha— [groans]
Rebecca: [frantic] Blow the kazoo! Blow the kazoo!
[Stev blows the kazoo.]
Sage: The boy seems to snap out of it for just a moment.
Stev: Thank god.
Sage: But the spirits stand by.
[Stat test chime.]
Roll me Performance.
[Dice roll on table.]
[Dishonor chime.]
Travis: God dammit.
Jessica: Oof.
Sage: They listen…and then they scream again.
[Spirits shriek. Rebecca groans.]
Stev: Well everybody—
Sage: The sun starts going down beyond the horizon.
[The spirits shriek continuously.]
Stev: Thank you. Thank you very much. Please stop screaming. Thank you. Yes. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Please stop screaming.
Rebecca: [irked] It’s not an encore.
[Emily chuckles.]
Stev: No, they- I- I can do it again. Alright. Here we go.
[He blows the kazoo.]
Sage: The sky gets darker.
Stev: [sings] Hey all you gho— [normal] What?
Elowyn: Stev, we don’t have time! We have to get to the green chapel, now.
Stev: Alright.
Sage: Sunset is almost over.
Rebecca: Quick! Quick! We’re going to miss our chance!
Elowyn: I’ll get the boy. Get to the chapel now!
Rebecca: Okay!
[Emily chuckles.]
Sage: Elowyn, while he’s distracted, roll to pick up the boy!
[Stat test chime.]
[Dice roll on table.]
Emily: Yeah.
[Honor chime.]
[Elowyn runs over to the child.]
Elowyn: Quickly, boy, come with me!
[She scoops him up and continues running. The Boy cries out in surprise.]
Stev: Don’t forget to tip your waitresses. Thank you, good night!
Elowyn: Go, go!
[The group charges toward the green chapel, panting.]
Stev: I’ve never had asthma, but I imagine this is what that feels like.
Rebecca: Doesn’t help with the fog.
Merlin: I volunteer to pick up Stev. He’s too stumpy to keep up.
Rebecca: [put out] I’ll pick him up.
[She grunts as she grabs him by the shirt and tosses him over her shoulder.]
Stev: Thank you— Ahhh! Stop throwing me around like a volleyball at a Jimmy Buffet concert!
Elowyn: Just run! Run, you idiots!
Stev: Beach ball.
Rebecca: We’re going!
Sage: Everybody retreats out of the fog, hoping that they’re going in the right direction, and thankfully…they arrive at the door.
[Rebecca sighs in relief.]
The screams are still heard echoing in the background. And before entering, we end the encounter with judgement.
[Suspenseful music.]
Jessica: Oh god.
Sage: Did you provoke the tormented spirits? No. Not really.
Did the boy stab himself in sacrifice? No. He’s okay.
But the spirits were left behind. And they are still discouraged. +2 Dishonor to everybody in the party.
[Dishonor chime.]
[Jessica blows her lips.]
Travis: Ooo, mama, we’re gettin’ there.
Jessica: Mm-hmm.
Sage: Honorable actions. Did you mend the spirits? You did not.
Did you save the boy? You did!
[Honor chime.]
So everybody only gets 1 point of Dishonor.
Travis: I tried my best.
Sage: And before our final confrontation, how close is everyone to 20 Dishonor?
Rebecca: 15 Dishonor.
Stev: 14.
Elowyn: 15.
Merlin: I have a 19.
Jessica: Oooh!
Travis: Oh shit [chuckles].
Sage: Oh no.
Emily: Merlin, no! [chuckles]
Travis: Uh-oh.
Merlin: I’ll be fine!
[Emily groans in concern.]
[Music fades.]
[Suspenseful music.]
Sage: Time is running out. One year to the day, it has almost come. Our four heroes, Rebecca Blacksmith, the knight hoping one day to be a singer; Stev, the traveling bard hoping one day to find his fourth chord; Lady Elowyn of the Danbranins, hoping to restore honor to her family of Green Knight slayers; And Merlin.
[Beat.]
[Chuckling.]
They all approach the front of the green chapel.
[Merlin coughs weakly.]
Rebecca: [worried] Oh, Merlin.
Stev: He’ll be alright.
[Merlin coughs again.]
Rebecca: Merlin.
Stev: Merlin.
Merlin: [weak] Breath is harder. Death is taking me.
Elowyn: [worried] It’s alright.
Stev: If only there was something honorable I could try to do right now, but I don’t think there is. Ah, boy.
Emily: Oh, also, now we have a boy [chuckles].
Sage: [amused] And you have a young boy.
Travis: Just danglin’ by the arm.
Brenly: I- I’m Brenly.
Rebecca: Oh. Hi, Brenly.
Elowyn: Yeah, Bren—
Stev: Yeah, we’re friendly too!
Elowyn: We’re—
[Jessica stifles laughter. Sage chuckles.]
Brenly: No. No, Brenly. I’m Brenly.
Stev: Brindly?
Elowyn: [warning] Stev.
Stev: ’S that mean cold?
Elowyn: [firm] Stev…
Stev: Is he cold? He’s not wearin’ a shirt.
Rebecca: [loud] We, uh, don’t have enough time, Stev!
Elowyn: Brenly, we are going to take care of some business.
Brenly: [nervous] Uh, oh, okay.
Elowyn: I promise you’ll be alright.
Brenly: Thank you for saving me.
Elowyn: Of course [humble chuckle]. Just stay here and stay out of sight.
Stev: What’d you think o’ that song, kid? What d’you- what d’you—
Elowyn: Nope! Stev, we don’t have time.
Stev: [put out] Alright, fine.
Brenly: It wasn’t very— It wasn’t that good.
[Sage stifles laughter.]
Stev: Everyone’s a critic.
Sage: As you approach the green chapel, you feel a profound sense of dread in your stomach. The building seems to not just be covered in vines, but composed of greenery itself.
As much a part of the forest as the trees surrounding it. Do you have the honor to enter?
Rebecca: Yes.
Elowyn: Yes.
Stev: Do I have to?
Elowyn: [irked] Yes.
Merlin: Yes.
Rebecca: [irked] Yes.
Stev: Yes. Yes, I do.
Sage: Then each of you must utilize one of your skills, however you wish, to get inside.
Merlin: I will use my…ugh…oh, my heart. Oh, I will use my keen senses of unparalleled ancient wizard mysticism to try to glean my way into the entrance of this cathedral.
[Stat test chime.]
[Dice roll on table.]
David: 10.
Sage: That is under. Success.
[Honor chime.]
Merlin gathers in some energy from these plants that are encroaching the entire building. He reads into their histories. It has healing properties. Almost like a photosynthesis of sorts, [amused] but nobody in this era knows what the fuck that is.
And what about anybody else? How do you get through?
[Stev blows on his kazoo. He clears his throat and strums his mandolin.]
Stev: I tell you the story about the Green Knight in step.
A boy so small he used a flour sack for a bed.
He stumbled to a cave
And now into his grave.
[Beat.]
Except it’s gonna be the grave of the Green Knight, ’cause I’m gonna beat the shit out of ’im with this mandolin!
[He strums the song to an end.]
[Stat test chime.]
[Dice roll on table.]
Travis: Hey! I’m under.
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Great. Stev, following right behind Merlin, as he just kind of whispers some kind of weird incantations, gaining energy from the plants.
[Merlin mumbles incoherently.]
Stev: Oh boy, way behind ya.
Sage: He’s following right behind. Pep talking himself in song.
And next is Elowyn.
Elowyn: I am Lady Elowyn of Danbranin. I come from a line of slayers of the Green Knight. You broke the line with my brother, but I will not break as easily. I seek to balance the scales. Let me enter so you may land your blows and I mine.
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Endurance.
[Dice roll on table.]
[Honor chime.]
Lady Elowyn, with great courage, enters the chapel.
And lastly, Rebecca Blacksmith the knight.
Rebecca: Oh god [sighs]. Alright. Well…I’ve made it thus far. I’m doing this to help Elowyn, so…[tsks] I’m just gonna use Brawn.
Travis: [stifles laughter] Nice.
[Stat test chime.]
Jessica: Is this over or under?
Sage: Under!
[Dice roll on table.]
Jessica: Ooo, boy. That’s a 0.
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Great!
[Rebecca roars and charges through the vines.]
Rebecca Blacksmith cuts through all these weeds and surpases everybody and she’s the first into the chapel.
Stev: [distant] Jesus Christ!
[Rebecca pants.]
Rebecca: Sorry.
Sage: And her charge has inspired everybody else in the party.
[Honor chime.]
Stev: Alright!
[Rebecca groans as she stands upright.]
Sage: Mist drifts through the weathered stone and hangs about the floors and corners.
[The group walks across the stone floor.]
You slowly make your way towards the block of stone that resembles an altar. Where the pulpit would be is only a massive tree trunk. Your eyes search around for the Green Knight, and it only as you get closer that you realize…he’s already there.
Rebecca: [quiet, annoyed] Of course he is.
Sage: One with the tree trunk itself.
[Rebecca burps.]
Rebecca: Hello.
[Plants rustle.]
Green Knight: You came. Has it been one year?
Stev: [quiet] You don’t even know?
Elowyn: Yes. It has.
Stev: [quiet] It seems ridiculous.
Elowyn: [quiet] Yes it does. [normal] Most honorable Green Knight, we have come at your behest, one year since each of us has struck you down. We are here to meet you again.
[Plants rustle.]
Green Knight: Yes, of course. Were you to take the honorable path, you must kneel before me.
[Beat.]
Stev: That’s it?
[Jessica chuckles.]
Merlin: Do what he says.
Green Knight: I will strike you hence on the neck with this axe.
[Tree bark creaks as the Green Knight lifts his axe.]
Rebecca: So you want us to kneel so you can chop off our heads?
Stev: No wonder all those ghosts are so pissed off. He tricked ’em! He says, “Hey, kneel down, let me hit you with this axe, and it’s a good time.” And then- now they’re all dead! What is this?
Green Knight: I was very clear. One blow on me, one blow on you.
Stev: [irked] I hit you with a mandolin!
Green Knight: And I’ll hit you with my axe.
Elowyn: And should we refuse to kneel?
Green Knight: Then you are dishonorable and we will battle.
Elowyn: [quiet] Oh. Yeah. That’s…
Stev: [quiet] I mean that skips- kinda stay in the protocol, I guess.
Rebecca: So if we’re honorable we just die?
[Beat.]
Green Knight: You look familiar.
Rebecca: Who? Me?
Green Knight: No- Wait! Yeah, you too. [Sage snickers]
Stev: Well yeah. You’ve talked to us all before.
Elowyn: All of us have struck you down before.
Stev: A year ago. You hit—
Green Knight: I do this- I do this all the time.
Merlin: I’m Merlin.
[Travis chuckles.]
Green Knight: …Who?
Rebecca: [shocked] Oh.
Merlin: [unamused] Very funny.
[Jessica and Travis chuckle.]
Elowyn: I’m sorry, Sir Green Knight, but we- we cannot kneel before you.
Stev: ’Cause, like, you’re gonna hit us and then we’re gonna be dead, right? If you hit us with an axe.
Merlin: I’m gonna kneel before him. Are you outta your mind?
Green Knight: Your brother was here before, wasn’t he?
Elowyn: Yes. Did he kneel?
Green Knight: He did. And I struck him down.
Elowyn: Then he was a coward.
Green Knight: You seem to have it backwards. Those of your family who made it back home fled at this very moment. They dishonorably abandoned my challenge and therefore lied to you.
Elowyn: [quiet] …No.
Green Knight: Your brother was the only one who knelt before me and did not even flinch. His soul is pure. And though he was struck down by my axe, he lives on amongst the trees.
Rebecca: Whoa.
Elowyn: [quiet] Cowards…
Rebecca: So are we just here to apologize to you—
[Travis chuckles.]
—and you’re gonna murder us, and then we will remain a spirit in the world and be honorable?
Elowyn: It seems the choice is honorable death or dishonorable life.
Rebecca: With a possible dishonorable death.
Elowyn: Yes.
Rebecca: [tsks] Alright.
Green Knight: You may all speak for yourselves. Doth thou kneel before me?
[Beat.]
Elowyn: [firm] No.
Stev: [nervous] Uh…yeah, no. I don’t- I don’t really wanna get hit with an axe. I gotta be honest, it’s not… N-no. [normal] I’m not gonna kneel. I’ll- I’ll go out swingin’ my mandolin around!
Rebecca: [sad] I’ll kneel.
Elowyn: Rebecca, no!
Green Knight: You, Rebecca Blacksmith, whomst has slaughtered me out three times, kneel before me, now.
Elowyn: Rebecca, no.
Rebecca: I don’t want to be dishonorable. I’ve- I—
Elowyn: You don’t even want to be a knight! What does it matter?
Merlin: Rebecca. Rebecca! I’m going to kneel. But that’s only because I’m literally one dishonorable thing away from eating it!
[Emily snickers. Sage stifles laughter.]
But you! You’ve got reserves. You’ve got a young life all ahead of you. You must come to your own decision, but I will be kneeling. Merlin has met his final adventure.
Elowyn: [shocked] Merlin, no.
Merlin: Yes.
Elowyn: No!
Merlin: [irked] What?
Elowyn: You’re a great wizard. You could defeat him!
Merlin: I am an old man and I’ve made up my mind!
Green Knight: Merlin the wizard.
[Beat.]
Merlin: Yeah?
[Sage and Travis chuckle.]
Green Knight: May we now test your honor?
Merlin: Go for it. I’ve got nothing to hide, Green Knight of old. My ancestors are smiling upon me this day. Can you say the same?
Sage: The Green Knight rips one great arm from out of the wall and then another. He stands tall at full height, towering far above you. Yes you’re tall, but not taller than him.
[Emily chuckles.]
Rebecca: Fuck.
Green Knight: So you have chosen honor. Good. Now kneel.
[The Green Knight swings his axe down toward Merlin. The axe cuts through Merlin’s neck and his head rolls away.]
Rebecca: Ah!
Elowyn: Merlin!
Stev: [nervous] Ah.
Sage: Off with his head. No reluctance. Like butter through that serpent. Merlin has been decapitated.
Elowyn: [quiet] Merlin.
Rebecca: He’s gone…
Elowyn: [angry] Is that what you want, Rebecca? Is that what you want?!
Rebecca: I- I- I don’t know. I feel Persuaded to kneel down, but if it— If I must do my duty as a knight for you and your family, I will stand by your side, if that’s what you prefer.
Stev: I’m gonna hit ’im with a slingshot!
[Jessica stifles laughter.]
Emily: [quiet, amused] I swear to god…
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: [amused] Roll Ranged Combat.
[Jessica chuckles.]
Travis: Is this honorable or dishonorable?
Emily: Oh my god! [chuckles]
Sage: Dishonorable, buddy.
[Jessica chuckles.]
Travis: Oh, I so got it.
[Honor chime.]
Sage: [amused] Nice.
Stev: Hey, fuck you, tree!
[Stev flings a rock from his slingshot, smacking the Green Knight.]
Sage: Boink! One blow has been stricken to the Green Knight!
Green Knight: You have chosen dishonor.
Stev: Yup!
Green Knight: [slow] So be it.
[The Green Knight pulls himself fully out of his tree, rising even taller above them.]
Elowyn: Oh.
Rebecca: [firm] Let’s do this.
[Action music.]
[Elowyn unsheathes her sword.]
Elowyn: I will strike you down with this blade!
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Is it over?
Emily: 20. Hell yeah, it’s over!
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Elowyn hits the Green knight!
[Elowyn charges forward.]
Stev: Oh boy.
[She screams as she stabs the Green Knight in the shin. He groans in pain and sighs.]
Sage: Two blows!
Rebecca: Alright.
Sage: He lifts his axe once more.
Rebecca: I am going to take down your head, as you’ve done to thousands of others who faced you!
[Stat test chime.]
[Dice roll on table.]
Jessica: That’s a 21.
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Rebecca strikes at his neck.
[Rebecca charges and swings her sword at the Green Knight’s neck.]
The branches are too thick, but she chips the bark.
[The Green Knight groans.]
Three blows! You feel his life force is at half.
Rebecca: For Merlin’s beard!
Stev: Pfft. It’s over there.
[Jessica stifles laughter.]
[Travis chuckles] Six feet from his body.
Sage: He lifts his axe once more!
Stev: Hey, I got a slingshot don’t I? Here we go!
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Ranged Combat.
Travis: 20!
Sage: Bonk again on the head.
[The rock whooshes across the room and slams into the Green Knight’s head.]
This rock was bigger!
Stev: Eat that, tree!
[The Green Knight groans.]
Sage: Four blows.
Stev: Also, I found my harmonica.
[He blows on the harmonica. Rebecca snorts in amusement.]
Sage: [amused] He hates the sound of that.
Stev: Yeah, I bet.
[The Green Knight stomps and growls.]
Elowyn: I’m gonna get him from behind. We should try to get him on the ground.
Rebecca: [worried] Oh.
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: Melee Combat!
[Dice roll on table.]
Emily: Ah! It’s 18.
[Honor chime.]
Sage: Great. Using the inspiration from Rebecca, Elowyn is able to…
[Elowyn runs at the Green Knight. She yells as she kicks hard into his knees.]
Kick his knees in. This giant tree…
[The Green Knight groans and collapses with a thud.]
Falls down. Five blows dealt!
Stev: Oh my god. I think we’re doing it!
Rebecca: Okay.
Sage: He’s almost defeated.
Rebecca: I’m gonna try to reason with him.
[Emily stifles laughter.]
Elowyn: No!
Stev: Reason?!
[Sage stifles laughter.]
Elowyn: He…
Stev: Reason him- reason him into a kitchen table!
Sage: The honorable Rebecca Blacksmith walks up to the Green Knight on his knees.
Green Knight: Yes?
Rebecca: Your rules are flawed. You put yourself on this pedestal as a judge of honor, which is dishonorable. As if you are any better than any of us. You shame us, yet we fight for ourselves and for our families. That is honorable. Merlin died an honorable death, but I know I don’t need to die to be honorable. And what Elowyn proceeds to do is beyond honorable! So you… You have no power over us!
Green Knight: I suppose arrogance is, in fact, a form of dishonor.
Stev: [quiet] Oh god. This guy’s pedantic as shit.
Rebecca: Shh!
Green Knight: My pride has overrun me like these leaves. You’ve shown me the error of my ways. But I would be dishonoring my own promise to myself to not finish what I have started.
[Music builds.]
Stev: I’m gonna El Kabong ’im with the mandolin and end this shit!
[Stat test chime.]
Sage: [amused] Melee Combat. Do it.
[Dice roll on table.]
Travis: Hot damn! 18!
[Honor chime.]
[Emily chuckles.]
[Stev roars and charges at the Green Knight. He smashes the mandolin over the Green Knight’s head and a string breaks. The Green Knight groans and collapses.]
Stev: And stay down!
[Jessica snickers.]
Rebecca: Did the 5’2” bard just do what I think he did?
Elowyn: He did. And I think it may have worked.
[Music calms.]
Sage: The body of the Green Knight lies broken and destroyed before you. The shards of wood and tendrils of greenery that compromised his body lie still and unmoving except for his head.
His eyes stare straight at you, and as mold seems to overtake the sockets, even as you watch it, it speaks.
Green Knight: You live today. Today I die and want and wait and grow.
Sage: Looking around, the sun shines through brightly. The trees open up above you, glittering green in all its shades and hues. Though, you notice the green’s fading, the leaves crackling against the sun. The whole green chapel is turning brown and black.
Elowyn: [worried] We should go.
Sage: The natural world begins to fold unto itself in a circle, growing outward from the Green Knight’s head. Rot and mold begin to spread. The world around you begins to die. You are left alone.
[Suspenseful music builds.]
Elowyn: [urgent] Go. Go now!
Stev: Oh my- oh.
Rebecca: [urgent] Someone grab Brenly!
Stev: Not- oh, boy. Come ’ere boy!
[Stev grabs Brenly and runs outside. Brenly cries out in surprise the whole way out.]
Okay, I— Bad idea for me to do this. Somebody grab ’im! Somebody grab ’im!
Elowyn: Okay—
Stev: He’s really heavy.
Rebecca: I- I got ’im, I got ’im!
[She grabs Brenly and swings him onto her back as they run.]
I got him.
[She coughs on dust as the chapel crumbles around them.]
Stev: Okay, I learned—
Brenly: You guys are super epic!
Stev: Oh thank you. Thank you!
Brenly: They’re gonna talk about this legend for days at least! Maybe more.
Rebecca: We gotta get out here first, if they’re going to.
Elowyn: Yes. Go, go swiftly, before the whole thing caves in!
Sage: And in a final sprint for glory, you all exit through the rotten archway!
Elowyn: [yelling] Aaaaaaaah!
Rebecca: [yelling] Aaaaaaaaaahh!
Stev: [singing] Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!
[Music and sound climax as they run outside…then calms.]
Sage: The fog has dissipated.
[Stev pants.]
All those ghosts and banshees that were screaming, the dissonant souls that were feeling shame…no longer do. And they speak to Rebecca.
Ghost of Merlin: Peace!
[Rebecca gasps.]
Peace has found its way to us at last.
Rebecca: Merlin…
Ghost of Merlin: Our souls have been pacified. Our vengeful spirits have been mended, and our pride is restored once more! because of your unshakable honor, and astute diction, we—
Rebecca: [smug] Thank you.
Ghost of Merlin: —are now free to ascend higher than ever before, into our great beyond.
Rebecca: [hesitant] You’re welcome.
Sage: The weight is lifted from her.
[Rebecca gasps quietly.]
The spirits leave.
Ghost of Merlin: [fading] Farewell!
[Jessica chuckles.]
Sage: Fading into the ether. After speaking on behalf of these spirits to Rebecca, he closes his eyes and Merlin…feels…nothing. Only blackness.
He is gone, but not dead. His body becomes one with the earth. His honorable legend lives on, rooted deep into the ground. Each time his story is told, a sapling will emerge. Time will let the sapling grow into a mighty tree. And Merlin becomes one with the woods.
You all look off into the distance and see, on an overpass looking towards you, an orange fox with a very familiar wizardly glint in it’s eye [chuckles].
The kid looks to Elowyn and speaks.
Brenly: Hey. What’s that over there?
Elowyn: [smiling] …An old friend.
[Beat.]
[Music fades out.]
Uh, do you live in a village around here?
Brenly: Who, me? Brenly? [Sage stifles laughter]
Elowyn: No—
Stev: Yeah.
[Jessica stifles laughter.]
Elowyn: —the people I’ve known for a year. Yes, you!
Brenly: I don’t know. I’m eight. [Sage stifles laughter]
Rebecca: What are your parents' names?
Elowyn: Do you have parents?
Brenly: Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Brenly.
Rebecca: Mm. Okay.
Stev: [quiet] Okay.
Brenly: They’re lodgers. They live out to the- to the north a teeny bit.
Rebecca: Oh, okay.
Brenly: Just kinda wandered my way over here.
Elowyn: Okay, we’ll return you home then, as it is the honorable thing to do.
Brenly: That’s very honorable of you.
Elowyn: Yes. Yes it is.
Brenly: I would say that’s- that- that would even decrease your dishonor or whatever.
Rebecca: What does that mean?
Elowyn: What?
Brenly: But you know, I don’t know what I’m talking about.
[Emily and Jessica chuckle.]
Hey, you! Is that a mandolin in your hand over there?
Stev: Yeah, I mean, it’s, you know, by- broke a string, but it’s got eight. So you know, uh, yes. Why d’y- why d’you ask?
Brenly: Well I learned a- a little diddly. Couple weeks ago.
Stev: What?
Brenly: Wanted to see if I could practice it again.
Stev: Oh, yeah sure. Here, you could probably use a pick me up. You’ve been through some…
[A string plucks lightly as Stev holds it out to Brenly.]
Here you go.
Brenly: Think it was…
[Brenly picks at the mandolin hesitantly.]
Dis finger here…
Stev: Oh r- what?
Brenly: And den dis finger here…
Stev: That’ll never work.
[Jessica and Sage stifle laughter.]
Brenly: And this finger right here.
[Travis and Sage stifle laughter.]
Stev: Okay. I don’t know what you’re goin’ for but—
[Brenly strums the mandolin.]
OH MY GOD!
Rebecca: Oh. That really worked.
Stev: WHAT?! What are you doing?! Do it again. Do it again immediately!
Brenly: Okay. Dis finger here, dis finger here, dis finger here.
Stev: Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I get it, I don’t see where—
[Brenly strums again.]
AHHHHHH!!
[Sage chuckles.]
Alright listen to me. You come ’ere, come ’ere. Kid, come ’ere, come ’ere.
Brenly: What, what? Yes?
[Stev grabs the mandolin and Brenly’s shoulder.]
Stev: We are not leaving this barren patch of waste until you teach me what it is you just did. I don’t care if it takes all day. I will spend a lifetime figuring out this thing you just did. I need this.
Brenly: Okay, here. Look, here- here, fine.
Stev: Alright?
Brenly: It’s just- put that finger there.
[The strings strum lightly as Stev places his fingers.]
Stev: O-okay.
Brenly: Dat finger dere. And den—
Stev: Alright, now hold on- okay- g-go back to the beginning. Go back to the beginning.
I’ve—
[Sage stifles laughter.]
I’m lost.
[Jessica stifles laughter.]
Brenly: Dat one dere.
Stev: Okay.
Brenly: Dat one dere.
Stev: Yup.
Brenly: Dat one dere.
Stev: Alright. Then I’m just gonna…
Brenly: Hit ’em all- hit all of ’em.
Stev: Eh- yo- yea- ok—
[Stev grunts as he strums the chord. Elowyn gasps.]
Rebecca: Oh, you did it!
Elowyn: Oh!
Stev: [quiet] Oh my god.
Brenly: Yeah, pretty good.
Stev: That’s it? [elated] That’s it?! I played the fourth chord!
[Stev strums the chord over and over.]
I found the fourth chord! I found the fourth chord!
[Sage stifles laughter.]
AHHH!
Brenly: Do you know any songs?
Stev: Well hell yeah I do! Well, I mean, actually I don’t. But I’d love to write one.
[Jessica stifles laughter. Sage chuckles.]
Hey. Hey, Rebecca?
Rebecca: Uh, yeah?
Stev: Would you like to sing a song with me?
[She gasps happily.]
I know you’ve been meaning ta practice your bard skills, and I’ve neglected that this entire journey.
[Sage stifles laughter.]
But I’m here to make up for it at the very end. Which means it still counts, morally.
[Sage chuckles.]
Rebecca: [touched] I would love to do that, Stev.
Stev: Fantastic!
[He strums the mandolin and sighs.]
[sings] We found the green castle
And we kicked down the door!
We beat his green ass
’Til he cried, “No green more!”
The battle was fierce
But our spirits were too.
We showed him just what
Real honor, full circle—
[He clears his throat.]
—can do.
Rebecca: [sings] We lost a dear friend
And it was awful sad.
We’ll always remember
The good times we had.
Stev: That old magic bastard
[tearful] Gave his life for ours.
At least that’s what I’ll say
’Cause I’m a dramatic little—
Rebecca, Stev: —bard!
So let’s hear it for old Merl
And his mystical ways,
And let’s all stay friends
’Til the end of our days!
[Stev strums the song to an end.]
Stev: [normal] Or at least until we drop you off.
[Music fades in. It builds into a squeal and cuts off.]
Credits |
[The Twilight Space music throughout.]
Kristin Couture: 20 Sided Stories is produced by Sage G.C., Travis Reaves, Jessica Dahlgren, Emily Ervolina, and David Michmerhuizen.
Editing and Sound Design by Sage G.C.
Twilight Space artwork by Chandler Candela
Original music score by Sage G.C.
And very special thanks to all our wonderful Patreon supporters of past, present, and future.
Podcast Directed by Sage G.C.
You can follow 20 Sided Stories on Twitter or Instagram @20SidedStories
Or visit our website for all sorts of goodies at 20sidedstories.com
Narrator: A fallen tree and a dishonorable sound. Though our quartet became a trio, their tale will become legend. Heard and told for millennia like a trunk too old to cut down.
Another branching piece of history in this forest we call THE TWILIGHT SPACE.
[Episode End music crescendos and fades out.]
Special Thanks |
Sage: Hey! Special shoutout to Timm Woods, the designer of The Green Knight roleplaying game, who we got in contact with and just, ugh. Chef’s kiss. Your blessing means a lot to us. We had a blast with this system, and we really appreciate it.
Go check out Timm’s stuff at timmwoods.com.
Up until One Shot #5, which is another two-parter, the remaining episodes of THE TWILIGHT SPACE will now air biweekly, continuing October 14, with a completely different one shot. And I mean completely different. Seriously. I’ll Venmo you a dollar if you can get it right. You won’t. Don’t bother.
Don’t forget, if you like what we’re doing, you can support the show at patreon.com/20SidedStories.
Thank you all for listening and I’ll see you on the next 20 Sided Story. Later.