Scene 0: Lucca’s Intro
Emergency Broadcast:
This is the Emergency Broadcast system. This is not a test. Schedule 1 Threat: Wildland Blight. Do not stop to collect belongings. Do not seek shelter. Report to your nearest evacuation site.
[Sounds of wailing crowd and screaming children]
Stranger: They’re all on fire! There are no boats
[Crowd panicking]
Stranger 2: We’re all going to die…no…no….
[sound of artillery fire onto the docks/ explosions and people dying]
Stranger: They firing at us?!
Scene 1: Lucca’s Episode
Von Overton: We need you to show us everything you remember. Don’t leave anything out…and don’t resist the process…If you just hold on to the LUDEN…it will translate your judgements and experiences for us and help us understand what happened…
Lucca: This is a LUDEN?
Captain Luobo: Limited Use Device of Esoteric Nature…It’s a bit like…
Lucca: The rod that Lars gave me…
Luobo: Right…only bigger…and more expensive…and…. more complicated…think of it like a cooperative storytelling device.
Von Overton: Lars is going through the same process with the commander… between all of you…we should be able to fill in a lot of the gaps...
[Distinctive LUDEN sound]
Scene 2: Showing her chops
Lucca: [Shiver] Do you feel that chill, Zaf? Winter is on it’s way! [shiver] Only eighty days till mid-winter festival! Are you do a lantern this year?
Zaf: [fiddling with Rod and showing little interest] Hmmmm…that’s bloody ages away nearly half a jarn…it’s barely past mid-autumn…why you going on about winter festival.
Lucca: Just excited I guess…and bored…and a little cold…and confused…[long awkward pause] Sooooo...Why are we here, again? [footsteps and pause] Oooo...He had some money, this one din’he? Who is it, d’ya reckon?
Zafar: Were here coz Cayson owes me a favour. You can piss off to the outer cordon and fight with angry, nosy half-paints, if you don’t wanna be here.” [fiddles with wooden rod] “It hasn’t got any buttons, or triggers, it doesn’t respond to commands...how are you supposed to work this stupid thing?.”… I haven’t got a clue who they are Luca. You can see as much as I can, their faces are inside out and through the back of their heads.” . “If I could get the rod to work, I would have some answers for you, mate.” [shoves rod into pocket]
Lucca: “Is that like the rod that Lars uses? Are you still trying to become a Steg? You need learning to use that stuff don’t you?”.
Zafar: “Yes mate, but Dobbler said this was Kabouter designed, could be used by anyone, without esoterics.”
Lucca: ‘Dobbler’? “Pass it here.”
Zafar: [pulls it out of pocket tearing a hole] “ [sigh] It’ll take me weeks to get a coat issued. I am sure the QM hates me.”
Lucca: “Yuda hates everyone. He reports to Lt Lance Major. Everyone who works under that twat is either useless or miserable.” [She turned the rod over to examine the flat end and was forced to stifle a laugh.] “Got this from Dobbler, did’ya?”
Zafar: “Yeah, and what? I’m not made of money. I don’t mind if its nicked.”
Lucca: “It’s the bottom half of a chair leg, you absolute creature.”
Zafar: “No, it isn’t. He gave me a certificate of authenticity with it. It’s genuine.”
Lucca: “Well then the previous owner has been stabbing one end into the wall repeatedly” [she chuckled]. “and Benson and his Sons are very tall for Kabouter. I didn’t realise they’d gotten into the esoteric business. I thought their furniture shop was keeping them busy enough.”
Zafar: “I’m going to wring that bastard’s neck. I swear it. I spent a whole month’s wages on this!”
Lucca: “That’s rough, buddy.”
Zafar: “I am never going to escape the day watch.
Lucca: “So... we are standing in a Little Luiren backstreet surrounded by dead leatherfoots on our day off... because you hate your job?”
Zafar: “ Don’t you wanna do what Lars does?” “Solve crimes and track down killers, instead of chasing thieves and getting spat on by entitled civvies.”
Lucca: [kneels down to inspect the body] “Shiiiiiiiiiit” “This one is a kapo...I think all of these guys are QK.”
Zafar: “Are you still taking the piss out of me Luca? Can’t you see I am upset?
Lucca: “And what’s this shiny thing here?” “Gods above. That is foul. You sure you wanna be a steg, Zaf? ? Come and grab this thing but hold your breath. It’s vile.”
Zafar: “What is that?”
Lucca: “I don’t know. Looks like some sort of small container. Grab it so we can have a better look.”
Zafar: “I meant the smell, mate. That is ripe.”
Lucca: He’s dead. You shit yourself when you die.”
Zafar: “Bollocks. You don’t shit when you die.”
Lucca: You do mate, my nan and my dad both shat themselves when they died.”
Zafar: “Well that’s crap innit. Takes all the dignity right out of it... I don’t wanna shit myself when I die.”
Lucca: “Make sure you’ve bin the privy before you shuffle off then. Fuck sake man, grab the bloody thing. This is rancid
Lift up body and pull out metal casing]
Zafar: “Looks like a fancy pen lid to me.” [flicks the metal casing away]
Lucca: “I didn’t think the Quietknives were into smuggling fancy pens, Zaf.”
Lars: “They’re not.”
Zaf/Lucca: “Fuck me (Zaf)”/“Shit the bed (Luca)”
Lucca: “Alright sir, you scared the life out of us. I didn’t hear you..err... good to see you... how’s the family?”
Lars: “Dead.” “I presume from your salutation and form of address that you are city guard. I don’t know you. You are not in armour. Explain.
Lucca: “We wanted to learn from the best. So, when we heard about these grizzly killings, we came straight from the houses.”
Lars: “Did you touch anything? Disturb the scene in any way?”
Lucca: “Nope. Just got here. Haven’t touched a thing.
Lars: No matter. We are lucky that there is a scene at all. The Families, rarely let bodies of made men sit for this long. They must have been caught by surprise, or were not aware of whatever was going on here.”
Lucca: “They are QK, how did you know?”
Lars: “QK territory. QK carriages on the next street over. Expensive clothing on Halfling’s in the Ghetto. Gang Tattoos.”
Lucca: “Didn’t spot the carriages. We came in from Elves Road, but I figured the rest. Any idea what all these shinies are, sir?”
Lars: “This one has a mouth. A tongue...Ask him.”
Scene 3: Incipit Dockmaster
[sounds of children sitting down for breakfast and food being served….sound of Matthias coming down for breakfast…]
Matthias: Good morning children…did you see the garden this morning? Still as lush and green as ever!
Occial/Cyril: [mocking chorus with father] Autumn leaves never fall in green grove!
Matthias: Autumn leaves never fall is green grove! [chuckles to himself] It’s magic you know! Has your mother risen?
Occial/Cyril: Good morning Dad!
Cyril: Mummy has gone to run an errand…she will be back to take us to Orient….[cynical]the place where we learned about the difference between evergreen and shedding trees!
Matthias: Hmmm…you are growing up so fast…next thing you know you’ll be telling me you don’t believe in Nian!
Occial: [Chuckles]
Occial: Can I get you a…?
Matthias: No…no…don’t trouble yourself…please sit and enjoy your breakfast…here…let me get you some fresh juice [rises from seat to grab a carafe…slowly begins pouring…tension sound builds with his breath becoming panicked…sound of spilling]
Occial: Oh…dad…are you?
Matthias: Yes…yes…ummm…the sanguinello….it’s colour……ummm [Shaking himself out of it and coughing]….I think…[sniffs the glass] [affected] oh dear…it appears to have gone bad!
[footsteps into room]
Elvire: Is everything alright Master Alaric?
Matthias: Elvire, would you be a dear and retrieve some fresh juice, the blood orange is a little overripe
[footsteps closer]
Elvire: “Are you sure Master Alaric? I made it less than a turn ago this morning and it seemed fine to me”
[pregnant pause]
Matthias: It looks like there is a bit of a mess too…
Elvire: “Very sorry about this Master Alaric, I must have been absent minded this morning, let me take that away for you and get you all a fresh lot”.
[sound of mopping up mess…picking up carafe and walking out]
Matthias: “Thank you Elvire, no need to apologise. These things happen.”
[Sound of Matthias sitting….sound of newspaper opening]
Matthias: “Anything to report on the affairs of the city, Cyril?
Cyril: “Just a lot of stuff about the Winter League Flugtag races, everyone guessing about if the crown team will be permitted to fly or if Foley has recovered enough from the last crash to participate. There are rumours the United Workers Federation will field a team this year.”
Matthias: Amidst all the trouble the games make the papers…extraordinary…
Occial: “How do they suppose winning the Flugtag races help the downtrodden working man? Weren’t they saying the games were karrow for the masses to keep them docile and distracted?”
Cyril: “The editorial by Mr Inacio says they will sabotage the race by playing as a spoiler, stop the PD guild from taking the prize”
Matthias: “How exactly would one play spoiler in a Flugtag race? I can’t imagine shooting down the other craft or attacking the pilots is outside of the rules.
Cyril: “They aren’t going to try to win. They might just set up somewhere on the track, allow all the other racers to pass and try to sink the usual winners. It’s just more revolutionary nonsense.
Matthias: Sounds very clever to me, Cyril. If they knock out the The Crimson Gammon, or Oilim Parvozzi if he stops prancing around the place and bothers to turn up. If they knock them out of the race they would cause serious problems for a lot of the so called ‘power wielders’. The results of the race are certain every year and a lot of people have a lot of interest in making sure that the prize money gets into the right hands.
Occial: It could be good for the sport to have someone else win for a change.
Matthias: Perhaps… [under breath] but the city doesn’t need more change….
Occial: Pardon, father?
Matthias: Nothing Occial…please let’s enjoy our breakfast together…Cyril you are still young…if you are going to read the papers, try to enjoy something a little lighter…I believe the grape vine has a graphic story or something…your mother loves that Sral Ux character…try not to grow up too fast will you. Come pass me some bread….
[Sounds of eating fading out]
[Sound of Matthias standing up and beginning to walk to the door]
[Elvire’s footsteps returning]
Elvire: Master Alaric….
Matthias: Yes Elvire.
Elvire: You don’t look well…perhaps you should stay in and rest…Lady Nayelie will back shortly…maybe you could take a walk in wide end?...The fresh air would be good for you or maybe you could build your model… put your hands to use and take your mind of work…
Matthias: Thank you Elvire…nothing but a little apprehension I assure you…unfortunately, today is not a day for hands…it is a day for talons and claws…but I will wash clean before I come home…
Scene 4: How could you Lucca?
[banging on door incessantly]
Lucca: Aright alright! I’m coming…it’s still dark out you soft bastard!
[door opens]
Lucca: Zaf! I’m on afternoons why are you knocking me up at this hour?!
Zafar: Were passed lights fading Lucca, it’s nearly darkest day…it’s later than you think…
Lucca: Well…it’s not bloody noon, is it Zaf!?
Zaf: When were you going to fucking tell me?
Lucca: [bleary eyed] Oh…what…right…sorry Zaf…It was just a joke…I thought you’d find it funny…
Zafar: What? So you aren’t joining the Steg?
Lucca: The Steg? What?
Zafar: Your assignment order was just posted at New Heath. Says you’re now an assisting investigator… tell me it’s not true…
Lucca: This is the first I have heard about it Zaf ! It’s probably just an admin error. Let me get dressed, I’ll head to the nick to see what it’s about.
Zafar: Right yeah…probably a mistake….well…what did you think I was on about?
Lucca: Nothing mate…umm…just give me ten yeah…
Scene 5: The Real Dockmaster
[sound of torture]
Matthias: Look Meiszko…I don’t want to have to drag this out..I take no pleasure whatsoever in doing this to you…
Matthias: You must understand…you didn’t steal from me…you stole from the families….The Lightfoots…
[stand up towel off spittle and blood from weeping man and his knuckles]
Matthias: There is no reason for you to suffer…I have arranged it with the Domina that you might have a quick death… if you tell me about the manifests…
[sobbing and whimpering]
Matthias: You look quite the sorry state Mieszko…are you going to fall over again?...I’m sorry…it’s been sometime since I did this…I would usually have tied you to a sturdier chair….it’s undignified for both of us…you keep knocking it over and I must pick it up…give me a moment will you…I’ll be right back…
[sound of walking away and collecting rope from table…]
[sound of walking back…sound of chair falling and Mieszko thrashing against the restraints]
Matthias: You’ve gone and done it again haven’t you….its useless to struggle Mieszko…it’s like my father taught me “good knots and do lots”…
[Picks Mieszko up drags chair to shelving unit back and rigs up pulley system to hold chair a little off the ground]
Matthias: There…that should stop you from collapsing again…apologies if swinging there is a little disorientating.
[walks around to front…kneels down …puts hand on lap]
Matthias: Hope is natural and your will to survive is strong… but I need you to understand…I have saved you from a worse fate…it may be difficult to see right now but I am your hope and your salvation…I will let you sleep…it won’t hurt at all…you’ll just drift away…
[sobbing and shivering…wiping away blood…fetch glass of water….sipping and gulping the water]
Mieszko: I don’t know boss…I swear to all the gods….I don’t know…It was just some paperwork…I didn’t think it was important…I didn’t think you would miss it…
Matthias: I need you to think…did they say anything that was conspicuous? Anything that stood out?
[another sip]
Mieszko: I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you who I gave it to! Just let me go!
Matthias: We haven’t even progressed past the fists yet Mieszko…I haven’t even begun to use my claws or my tools… am I doing you a disservice by going easy on you? Would we both be better off if I skipped ahead? I am trying to save you the pain my boy…please don’t make me hurt you anymore…
Mieszko: Please master alaric…please let me go…I won’t tell anyone….please!
Matthias: I’m sorry my boy…you’re desperate…and desperation is still a negotiating position…I can’t rely on your echo’s testimony, if you think you are getting out…my restraint is the greatest cruelty….I suppose we should start wrapping this up then…you are going to tell me everything now son…once you beg me for death…I can be sure…
[digs claws into leg until bone cracks…Scream]
Scene 6: It must be a mistake
Lucca: I don’t understand…I didn’t put in an application…I’ve never even..
Zafar: [Pouting] Hmm!
Lucca: I said I am sorry Zafar…I didn’t know the whole nick would get in on the joke… I mean it’s pretty funny…
Zafar: Really you think you…the person who has literally stolen my dream job is allowed to enjoy this? Every single guardsman walking round with a chair leg in their holster in place of their baton…
Lucca: [stifled laugh] and don’t forget the new sign over the storage cubby….
Zafar: ‘Dobbler’s Esoteric Emporium’… you bunch of heartless bastards…well I hope you have a good giggle about it with your new boss!
Lucca: Come on mate! Don’t be like that! We’ve got a foot in the door- if Stegs are taking mentees now it’s only a matter of time before you get snatched up!
Zafar: D’ya reckon?
Lucca: Absolutely!
Zafar: Yeah…yeah…maybe you’re right. You’ll put in a good word for me, right?
Lucca: Course I will! And by way of apologies for taking the piss …let me buy you breakfast!
Zafar: On your new pay, you’ll be paying for every breakfast! Don’t think I’ll be buying rounds when we’re on the mile either!
----------
Scene 6.5: Lucca’s first day
Lars: Afternoon Constable Lucca… Welcome to your first day in the Steg…
Lucca: Afternoon Boss… ummm…who did you piss off to get this job then?
Lars: [sigh] What can you see Lucca?
Lucca: It appears to be a very large number of barrels filled with dead…rotting….rats…
Lars: Yeah.
Lucca: Is this really…is this really steg business boss?
Lars: It is the case we have been assigned… don’t focus on the status…focus on the mystery…the details we need to know…
Lucca: Is this even a crime?
Lars: Illegal trapping and unlicensed sale…
Lucca: Yeah…I mean…but everyone does it… how else is anyone gonna get a decent breskin without meat?
Lars: …it is a crime… a puzzle... the greatest satisfaction you can get in this job is ‘the solve’…when all the pieces suddenly fit together, and you can finally see the whole…
Theras: Oi! Piss off! These are my rats! You can’t have them!
Lars: Who are you?
Lucca: Fuck my life…Hey Theras…
Theras: And who the fuck-..oh…is that you Constable Lucca? I didn’t recognise you without your armour… what are you doing in my hide? Did you get the sack? Well, you can’t have my rats! I’ve already sold them.
Lucca: Are they all this satisfying boss?
Scene 7: Secured what?
Dockmaster: Have we secured them all?
Rayan: I got everything off the McGuffin and the Chicken Wing’s Manifests…and we got the whole crew…at least as far as I can tell boss…
Dockmaster: Just one of these things could cause untold harm…we need to ensure they are not on the street… I’m not even sure I could….
Rayan: I get ya boss…does that mean we’re uhhh…not handing these over to the Lightfoots?
Dockmaster: No…We will keep them for now… we need to find out where they came from…ensure we stop more from arriving…
Rayan: How did these mooks get ‘old of this stuff? They look like a bunch of kids…
Dockmaster: They are not children Rayan…remember that…don’t forget…the Domina herself is halfling… and we are right to treat her with fear and respect…
Rayan: Yeah…you’re right…do we know who they are connected to?
Dockmaster: No…right now all I know is that they are smugglers…but I will know more…soon enough… Go home Rayan… I will call on you later… You do not need to be a part of this…
Rayan: [sigh] Right you are boss… Let us know if you need anything…
----------------------------
Scene 8: Lucca beers with colleagues
Zafar: Lucca! Lucca! Get over here you bloody turncoat!
Lucca: Alright boys! How have you all been?
D’Brie: All the better for seeing you.
Zafar: Not too bad except waiting for you to show up…what time do you call this? You said you’d be done by retiring hour… we’re far into the night! Bulgan is three sheets to the wind!
Lucca: So are you by the sounds of it…getting all nautical.. you can’t even swim you soft shite! It’s basically mid-winter! [mocking] It’s earlier than you think!
Zafar: Sorry didn’t catch that Lucca, you’ll have to try my good ear!
Bulgan: I thought…I thought…I thought we were friends Lucca!
D’Brie: Not this again Bulgan…
Bulgan: We were a team! The Day Watch!
Zafar: There, there Sarge…I’m sure Lucca hasn’t abandoned us completely…she turned up after all!
Lucca: Bloody hell Bulgan are you crying?!
Bulgan: So what if I am?!
Lucca: You can all bugger off with this Day-Watch for life bollocks! Zafar- you’ve been trying to join the steg since you signed up…Bulgan- You’ve not long transferred in from busting heads with the QRF. D’Brie…Okay you and your brother have been in the Watch longer than any of us… and…ummm
D’Brie: I don’t mind Lucca. So long as you are happy…
Lucca: Right…Yeah…[cough]… shall I get the round in then?…
D’Brie/Bulgan/Zafar: [Cheering]
[Sounds of drinking- music and tavern ambience in background]
D’Brie: How are you liking investigations then?
Lucca: It’s…It’s alright yeah…it’s different…
D’Brie: In what way?
Lucca: It’s busier… I mean…we don’t patrol but we’re always busy… everyone is really focused and organised…it’s very…professional…
D’Brie: You must fit right in!
Lucca: Ha! I’m the only non-caster in the place! They all went to expensive schools, none of them will even talk to me…except Lars….and its not like we’ve actually…solved anything yet.
D’Brie: What’s he like then?...Lars? You hear… things about him… you know…
Lucca: He’s…different…odd…he is teaching me the ropes…thinks I’ve got talent… but its…difficult to like him…he is pushy…works all hours…he’s awkward and he doesn’t have much of a personal life…no hobbies or interests that he talks about…no politics….no drama or gossip…he tries to make jokes sometimes but they come off wrong…like he means them…I dunno… I like him I guess but…I can see why people… I mean…
Zafar: [Interrupting/Drunk] You talking about Lars? I think he’s great! Will you tell him that? Will you tell him that for me Lucca? I don’t [hiccup] I don’t mind that he is a weird skulking creep…he solves mysteries with fucking magic! It’s so fucking cool! Did you know! Did you know- Sral Ux…the investigator…the fictional one….in the daily strip…it’s based on him! … You can tell because they drew him with pointy ears…
Lucca: and it’s his name written backwards Zaf….
Zafar: What?! Ooooo! So it is! I guess that’s why you is the investigator! And I’ll die in the fucking day watch with you D’Brie…
D’Brie: You’ll die in the day watch because you take sullied coin Zafar…
Zafar: Pffft! Slander. Plus anyway…we all got our patrons…we all do what we need to do to survive… Bulgan is…
Bulgan: Listening Zaf…so…go get another drink.
D’Brie: Sooooo… Do you want to get out of here then?
Lucca: I thought you’d never ask...
Scene 9: Dumping bodies.
[Sounds of tying, puncturing and dropping in ocean, soft sea breeze]
Rayan: That’s the last of them boss.
Matthias: [Sighs] mmmmmmm.
Rayan: Don’t sweat it. None of this will come back on us. People go missing all the time. No one will find them down there…I’ve put spice in their pockets…so even in the cooling weather… the fish should still be eating. The heads have been destroyed, so no one will identify them and the stegs won’t be able to get ‘em chatting.
Matthias: mmmmmm.
Rayan: You worried about them linking all this to the Docks? Don’t sweat that. All the boys have been briefed up to say they came and went …. Even had some of their kit…and some…errr…’bits and pieces’… dropped in the smoulders and the narrows- so it will look like whatever happened, happened there. We’ll give the guard a nudge in that direction, so they’ll find them.
Matthias: Mmmm..What was that Rayan?
Rayan: Boss? Are you alright?
Matthias: Yes…Yes…I mean…No…You’ve seen the ship haven’t you?
Rayan: The Barque? You mean the whopping big bastard off shore? Hard to miss, even in low light. You worried about it?
Matthias: No…I mean yes, of course I am. I had rather hoped the fighting was over when I had the children brought back from Udi…
Rayan: We can have ‘em shipped back out easy enough boss. Get them out the way till it’s all sorted. No need to stress over that…can send Nayeli with ‘em too.
Matthias: Yes…Yes…
Rayan: Something else on your mind Dockmaster?
Matthias: Everything turns on a button Rayan…every time you think you have a grip on things, the world shows you how futile your plans are…
Rayan: My plans boss?
Matthias: I had a choice today…I have had choices every time we have resorted to something like this…
Rayan: I don’t think we’ve ever done this many before boss…
Matthias: No…quite…not all at once anyway…but every time we have done it…we chose to break apart a family…to visit misery on others… to fill this awful world with more pain…for what?
Rayan: So I don’t end up as one of them…but I know for you it’s different… it’s so you can spare your family from the misery being on the receiving end. Though I have to say- the coin and the comfort don’t hurt.
Matthias: We are deceiving ourselves Rayan. We are fools. The winds blow and the tides change: we fight, and we kill and we tell ourselves that the stacks of bodies beneath us cushioned our fall…
Rayan: That’s rather deep boss…and a bit…bleak. Were doing alright, doing what were doin’…best not think…
Matthias: Look at that colossus… I have never seen anything like it…No matter how big you get…no matter how powerful…there is always something bigger…scarier…just waiting to catch you by surprise. It might as well be a sign from the gods. We are as likely to meet our ends as anyone else. These poor souls we have condemned to the deep…many of them will have lived lives with joy and love and happiness…perhaps equal or greater than our own…but they did not visit upon others nearly the suffering that we have…and no matter which way you look at it…Ship or no Ship…War or no War…we will end up in the same place as them…
Rayan: At the bottom of the deep harbour?
Matthias: Dead Rayan…all of us dead…I am no longer sure it’s worth it.
Rayan: Your tired boss and all this killing and morbid business will put anyone in a sour mood…you should let me and the boys pick up more of the slack…you don’t have to do it all yourself… there’s no use worrying about the big things, just the here and now. The ship came in with the Royal Navy sloops. If the royals retake the city, they still need the docks to run smoothly and if that wanker Tebby is still kicking and wants your lot out, you’ve got enough money and enough clout to set up somewhere nice in the country. Plan for the worse and hope for the best but most importantly…get home to the sprogs and your missus and get that sour-face off your chops before you do. No point in having nice things and loving family if your too tied up in knots to enjoy them.
Matthias: You are right of course. Please excuse my foul mood. Lets get back to shore promptly..I’ve still got to figure out how to inform the Domina about all this mess… Once I’ve done that we can leave all this nasty business behind us.
Rayan: Right you are boss. [sounds of paddling]__