Adventure Story - Episode 14 | A Test of Character
Gravedeath faces a moral dilemma that can make or break his quest
New to the adventure? Start at the beginning by clicking here. If it’s not your first time, you can skip the character list and get right into the action.
Character List:
GRAVEDEATH: He used to be a nice guy until power predictably corrupted him and turned him into a murderous psychopath. He will stop at nothing to obtain the Very Powerful Object which will make him — you guessed it — unstoppable.
KING’S ADVISOR: This one is pretty self-explanatory.
MASTER OF COIN: We don’t really know what he does but the title sounds cool and every King’s Council needs one.
KING’S MATHEMATICIAN: He’s the abacus guy.
OLD MAN: Just your classic beggar-in-need. Or is he?
FADE IN
EXT. SOMEWHERE ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE FACE OF MOUNT MALDIAC. THE SUN IS STILL HIGH IN THE SKY, BUT THE WINDS GROW MORE BITTER WITH EACH PASSING HOUR. SOMEWHERE IN THE DISTANCE, THE WAIL OF A BANSHEE RINGS OUT.
GRAVEDEATH
The prophecy says that the Object of Great Power will be searched for High and Low. The only thing down in the mines was a giant eyeball. What could be higher than the peak of Mount Maldiac?
KING’S ADVISOR
Excellent deduction, My Lord. Unless of course searching high refers to being under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms, rather than searching in a physically high-up place.
GRAVEDEATH
Nobody would be stupid enough to interpret the prophecy like that. Not even a Wizard.
MASTER OF COIN
Maybe high refers to a price. Maybe we need to purchase the Object of Great Power from someone for a considerable sum.
GRAVEDEATH
Some of what?
MASTER OF COIN
A sum of money, My Lord.
GRAVEDEATH
The Object of Great Power would be worth a lot of money, not just some.
MASTER OF COIN?
Never mind, My Lord. You’re right, of course.
GRAVEDEATH
I am surrounded by idiots. Your jobs are to tell me I’m right and hold the Money Sack, not to decipher prophecies. How far are we from the peak?
KING’S MATHEMATICIAN
According to my abacus, two beads, My Lord.
GRAVEDEATH
Two beads what?
KING’S MATHEMATICIAN
Two beads to the left, My Lord.
GRAVEDEATH
How far is that in steps?
KING’S MATHEMATICIAN
Between several and several thousand, My Lord.
GRAVEDEATH
Can someone please tell me why we brought him?
KING’S ADVISOR
Mostly for optics, My Lord.
GRAVEDEATH
Remind me to have him executed when we get back to civilization.
As the royal company rounds the next bend, they come across a frail old man sitting on the ground. His hair is thin and white and he is half-naked and shivering in the cold. His trembling lips are blue, and small icicles cling to wispy beard.
OLD MAN
Oh Noble King, please, from the kindness of your heart, spare some food for me, it has been a week since I tasted more than snow and river-water.
GRAVEDEATH
Out of my way, old man, I’m trying to find the Object of Great Power. Go beg somewhere else.
OLD MAN
Please, Noble King, I beg you, spare a blanket for an old man, my bones are cold and brittle and the winds at night are harsh and furious.
GRAVEDEATH
Pay close attention, all of you; this is how they get you. First it’s food, then it’s a blanket, next thing you know they want a seat at your council meetings.
OLD MAN
I could also be a powerful shapeshifter posing as a frail old man to test your character.
GRAVEDEATH
Well? Are you that?
OLD MAN
If I told you it would defeat the purpose. You’re supposed to help me out of the goodness of your heart, no strings attached.
GRAVEDEATH
My heart has no goodness, nor does it have strings in it. This is how they get you, everybody. Pretending to be shapeshifters testing your character, asking for food and blankets, trying to get inside your head and make you think your heart is full of strings.
KING’S ADVISOR
Should we maybe give him some food and a blanket just in case, My Lord? We have plenty of both and if it does turn out to be a test, you’ll have shown yourself to be of Great Moral Character.
MASTER OF COIN
Do whatever you want, just don’t give him money.
GRAVEDEATH
We will give him half a radish.
KING’S ADVISOR
Perhaps a whole radish and a blanket, My Lord?
GRAVEDEATH
A whole radish and half a blanket. Nothing more.
KING’S ADVISOR
Might it be more efficient to give a whole radish and a whole blanket, rather than go to the trouble of ripping a blanket in half, My Lord?
GRAVEDEATH
Three berries, two radishes, a blanket, and a sheepskin.
KING’S ADVISOR
I don’t think he knows how haggling works.
MASTER OF COIN
He definitely doesn’t. I need to try this on him with my salary.
The Royal Party bestows upon the Old Man three berries, two radishes, a blanket, and a sheepskin.
OLD MAN
Your Highness is too kind, a thousand blessings be upon you and your progeny.
GRAVEDEATH
Yes, yes, I am very merciful. Now turn back into your original form and tell me how to find the Object of Great Power.
OLD MAN
I’m actually just an old man who got lost in the mountains and robbed by bandits.
GRAVEDEATH
Then why did you say the thing about being a shapeshifter?
OLD MAN
I was just trying to play on your heartstrings.
GRAVEDEATH
There are no strings in my heart, you abomination! I’ll have your head for this!
KING’S ADVISOR
My Lord, if I may, perhaps doing the right thing itself is the reward. Grant this poor Old Man your mercy and let us not waste any more valuable time.
GRAVEDEATH
You’re right, let’s forge ahead and we can pick up the blanket and the sheepskin from him on the way back down. If he’s still alive they may even be warm from his body heat. Then we will have done the right thing, and we can get our stuff back.
OLD MAN
Pardon me, Lord Gravedeath?
GRAVEDEATH
What is it now?
OLD MAN
I changed my mind, I’m, uh, actually the Guardian of the Object of Great Power, and I’m happy to inform you that you’ve passed the first test!
GRAVEDEATH
Excellent news! Where is it then?
OLD MAN
You must pass, uh, a series of tests, before you can have it.
GRAVEDEATH
I killed a giant eye earlier, I’m in top form. What do I have to do?
OLD MAN
You have to, uh, make me a knight and bring me with you.
KING’S ADVISOR
My Lord, now he’s actually trying to take advantage of you.
GRAVEDEATH
Silence. Give me my sword so I can knight the Guardian.
Gravedeath knights an 80-year old man with half his teeth and outfits him with a full suit of armor and sword.
GRAVEDEATH
Rise, Knight of Doomveil and Guardian of the Object of Great Power! I have passed your second test, now point the way and we shall follow!
OLD KNIGHT
To the top of Mount Maldiac!
GRAVEDEATH
To the top of Mount Maldiac!
KNIGHTS OF DOOMVEIL
To the top of Mount Maldiac!
KING’S ADVISOR
Should we tell him?
MASTER OF COIN
That he’s being swindled by an old man who has never heard of the Object of great Power before? No, it’s better to let him discover these things for himself.
KING’S ADVISOR
He’ll blame me for it.
MASTER OF COIN
It’ll be fine, he'll probably execute the abacus guy and forget about the whole thing.
KING’S ADVISOR
I just hope we don’t run into Gravedeath’s bastard dragon-rider son and Bigheart’s band of adventurers on the top of this mountain. That would be a mess of epic proportions.
MASTER OF COIN
Quiet, you’ll jinx it.
FADE OUT
Wondering what the hell is going on? Start at the beginning by clicking here. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can get the next episode directly to your inbox. And if you’re enjoying the adventure, please share with a friend. Thanks for reading Adventure Story!
Next Episode:
Ok, full disclosure, I nearly spurted water from my nose with this one 🤣
i like this play you are an amazing writer. i want to write 10+ fiction books in my lifetime