TC Ep 244 Script

244

this is a raven’s egg

S: tell me about them. the Ravens. No one’s ever mentioned them. I’ve never seen one. it’s like they disappeared. 

Lordeldwode: (eyes him). come. 

takes him to room full of portraits of crows. 

LE: the Eldwode line, dating back centuries, as I am sure you -

s: let us not pretend here, my Lord. We’re both very aware that we’re not actually related. 

LE: There are those that think most Crows are, our lines all leading back to Icarus himself.

S: Icarus used Dove feathers to create his wings, and we’re not so closely related that you would be sticking your neck out for me because of it. 

LE: Dove? Is that where those fanatics have ended up then? Cooping up on that island of yours and spouting their filthy lies -

S: you know I am not from here, then

LE: boy, we Crows are a close-knit sort, we are all aware of those within our ranks. Those of us on Kooup are running unchecked, unaware of their lineage and abandoning flock names altogether. It’s uncouth, it’s unthinkable -

S: most of us there were just trying to stay alive, Lord Eldwode. We didn’t have the luxury of wondering about our parentage as most of us had none, them either killed in turf wars, locked away, or just abandoning us. 

LE: how savage

S: it was survival, that’s all. tell me about the Ravens.

LE: (turns to larger portrait in middle of room) King Corvanous VII. A relation, on my mother’s side, as all Crows are related to the royal line in some aspect. Below, Corvanous VIII. Below that, Corvanous IX, the last Crow King. Him and his family all murdered due to Corvanous VII’s hubris.

S: Corv the 7th was responsible for the dark age.

LE: and for banishing the Ravens.

S: banish…?

LE: The Ravens were the religious order of Avarie, they upheld and taught the nation’s beliefs - of Icarus, the original Avian, his father Daedalus who created him…and how the feathers used to fashion his wings were Crow feathers. The Ravens were pious, proud…and fierce in their worship of Crows, especially royals who were supposedly direct descendants of Icarus. They were the original Kingsguard, they protected them from any dissenters, but they were also advisors. And so it was, for too many centuries to count.

Until Corvanous VII. it’s theorised that generations of worship can lend a person a certain arrogance…and Corvanous VII soon grew tired of his Raven advisors who disagreed with his ideas and penchant for power. He used that very power to rid them of theirs. He banished them to the southern tundra, and instated the Ashguard in their stead. A legion of Crow warriors with equal devotion, but less input in his plans. Any technological breakthrough from the past century was destroyed, the inventors heavily regulated, and the people were left with no choice but to grow in their resentment. When the Raptor purists attacked, the Ashguard and Redguard were able to push them back to Kooup, but not before a faction of Redguard turned on the King and ended the monarchy once and for all. The Council took over, and the Raven’s were never heard from again.

S: how did i find this, then? are they sure it’s Raven?

LE: While you were…incarcerated, the Council tried to find a family to take it in to care for it in your absence. The Chicken family they usually ask took one look at the egg and fainted in fear. there are old wives tales of such eggs, how having one in your house leads to inexplicable bad luck. some confuse them with Cuckoo stories, even. other doors were shut firmly in the Council’s face so a squire was ordered to look after it, only after having a guard set to watch them day and night. it’s caused quite a lot of trouble. They've had it candled, the contents entirely black so it should be just about full-term. We will have to prepare for the hatching.

S: are you…concerned, having it here?

LE: no. but we’ll also be leaving the capitol soon for my main residence, which is more secure than this. 

S: what about -

LE: your friends will remain here, for their approved punishments. I have managed to get the Redguard assigned as protection for the manor so he will be coming with us. I assume he was actually properly trained as Redguard, and that is not also a farce?

S: yes, he said so himself. 

LE: a small mercy. (goes to leave)

S: Why are you helping me, Lord Eldwode? 

LE: (looks over shoulder) As I have said, all Crows are related, one way or another. Your friends are in the dining room, it seems you have forgotten about your dinner invite.

(leaves. scra looks down at egg, then back at king portrait, looming)

scra enters dining room, farrah and ree drinking

R: about time! where’ve you been?? it’s rude to leave guests waiting.

S: sorry, i fell asleep.

F: you got the egg back?

S: Lord Eldwode. he…got ky back, too.

r: (stands) what?? where is he -

s: sleeping. he…needs sleep. they fucked him up pretty badly.

r: those bastards -

S: listen, im, uh, gonna go back and watch him. you’re both free to eat here obviously, have a waiter take you to the guest rooms if you want to stay since it’s late, and I’ll see you tomorrow?

R: yeah, of course. we’ll come see him in the morning. give him a kiss from us.

(S leaves, blushing. ree sits back in chair, leans back.)

r: …how’ve we fucked up this badly, Farrah? 

F: it could be a lot worse, all things considered.

R: we really weren’t as smart as we thought we were, getting into all this, were we?

F: no. but what i wouldnt give to be that naive again.

scra gets in bed with ky, egg between them. is worried but content. strokes his face. 

sleep sings as a shadow looms in from the door, wings spread.

Lore dumps are always tricky eps to write because i try not to make it tooo overwhelming while also getting some things answered hahaaaa