El Tiempo Del Brujo

(The Time of the Warlock) — A cutscene for Tears of Tetricala RPG

EXT- BANNER STREET IN THE LOWER CITY OF ISULSTAD - NIGHT

The deep night sends a cool breeze down the dim street, while a pattering of rain falls, pooling on the ancient uneven cobblestones. GALDUR walks towards the camera, his head swiveling from side to side looking into dark alleyways and shuttered windows. As he sees a small food cart sitting at an alleyway opening, he stops. Other than the glow of the moon, the only light in the street comes from the small lantern gently swinging from the pole holding up the canvas covering of this temporary establishment. The light is inviting and unusual for this time of night.

As Galdur steps up to the cart, the light illuminates his hard features, leathery tanned skin, light gray eyes, a hook nose, and a short brown beard. A jagged scar mars the left side of his once handsome face. He is draped in a large dark hooded cloak but glimmers of the armor beneath show through as he moves toward the cart. His eyes stare at the soft light for a moment as rain patters his face then he bends his tall frame down a bit to stand beneath the canvas covering.

INT- A GRIMY POTSHOP IN THE LOWER CITY OF ISULSTAD - NIGHT

A brown stew bubbles in a large pot set into the center of the cart and a loaf of gray bread lies sliced on the board next to it. GALDUR peers over the cart, looking for its proprietor, but at first, cannot make out who is there in the darkness as the lantern is covered on the backside only sending light out into the street. He squints his eyes into the black.

GALDUR

(with a feign of confidence)

I know you’re back there Ralli. I’ve got some questions for you.

Come on out so we can have a little chat, old friend.

There is a long pause before a flicker of movement can be seen in the darkness, a brief flash of color from a purple coat.

RALLI

(in a quiet, raspy voice just above a whisper)

I didn’t think you’d ever come back here, Galdur. How long has it been? Five? Ten years?

GALDUR

Fifteen. I serve House Mok in Isvieldara, at least for now.

The silhouette of Ralli emerges out of the darkness a bit further. His jet-black hair makes his pale skin look almost white. A ring pierces the right side of his nose and a small tattoo in a foreign script decorates his forehead.

Ralli

(Ralli winks a cold black eye, smiling broadly)

Fifteen. It feels like just yesterday when you were working for the Council

hunting down that rogue mage. The years have not been kind to you

though. You look old, Protate is it now?

GALDUR

Yes. And you haven’t aged a day.

(shifting his weight to his back foot and slowly reaching for the hidden weapon beneath his cloak)

I’m looking for someone.

RALLI

(feigning surprise)

Really?

(a serious look crosses his face)

Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.

You only come to see your poor old friend Ralli

when you want to find someone it seems.

GALDUR

That is certainly true. But you still owe me, remember?

RALLI

Oh, I remember. I remember you sticking that sword you’ve got hidden

under your cloak in my face when you found out I’d duped you.

(getting angry)

I remember you nearly throwing my sister over the wall when you wanted answers.

GALDUR

It’s not the same sword. The one I have now is sharper. But you deserved all I gave you.

(shaking his head)

And you still owe me. I’m looking for a man who inscribes runes on buildings.

The runes glow with a bright purple light for a few minutes after the act then

fade away. If anyone in this damned city knows about it, you do.

RALLI

(sarcastically)

You flatter me.

(pausing to lick his lips before he continues)

I might know a bit about the man you seek. But you’re not going to like my answers.

What do you want to know about him?

GALDUR

He’s marked five manors, all of them from the greatest Merchant Houses of Telephos.

I only just arrived, this is for a friend who is on the case for the Council, but–

RALLI

(scoffing)

For the Council? You think I’d help those scudbuckets?

You’ve not been here for a long time. Things have changed.

Us down here in the Lower City don’t work for the Council anymore.

No exceptions.

Quick as lightning GALDUR reaches over the cart and grabs Ralli by the collar.

GALDUR

(voice low and menacing)

This is important. Something’s happening in this city. I can feel the veins of power pulsing,

squirming beneath a heavy boot.

(releasing Ralli and stepping back a bit)

So, what do you know?

RALLI

(straightening his coat)

He’s dangerous. Even more dangerous than you, I gather. So, don’t even try it, holy guardian.

He moves in the dark like a shadow, his blade is quicker to strike than a Nuru Cobra…

and he isn’t all human. There is something Ancient about him, his eyes glow

with a purple light when he gets angry.

GALDUR

(whispering to himself)

It cannot be him. Fate cannot be so cruel.

RALLI

What was that?

GALDUR

(desperation in his voice and eyes)

So, you’ve seen him. You know what he looks like. Can you make contact?

RALLI

How stupid do you think I am? You and I are both dead if he even knew you’d been here.

Now, go! I’m done talking to you.

RALLI begins to retreat into the dark alley as GALDUR stares at him, his mind racing.

GALDUR

Goodbye, old friend. I hope we do not meet again.

RALLI

(scoffing)

Bah! Be gone.

GALDUR turns from the potshop heading back up the way he came down Banner Street, the rain has picked up, pelting down on his hood as he quickly walks back towards his lodgings in the Telephosian Quarter.

As the camera watches him go, a shadow moves out from a nearby building materializing into a tall figure all in black, V’mur. The rain does not strike him but parts around his form as it falls. A long no-dachi sword hangs from his waist.

V’MUR

What does he know?

RALLI

Too much.

A blade flashes through the rain, and a red splash hits the alley wall.

FADE TO BLACK