The Folly of the Four Sons

An opera by Tarek Elham of Cyre, performed at the Galleria of Shadows in Regalport.

## **Transcript**

> **ACT 1:**
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> *A king in his old age had only one daughter, who was beautiful and clever and skilled with art, but too young to rule the kingdom alone. fearing for her future, he asked his council what should be done, and they each offered their sons hands in marriage.*
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> *The martial's son was a warrior, an experienced soldier who had won many battles. He would be able to advise the princess in matters of war and defend the kingdom with his might.*
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> *The sage's son was a wizard, well learned and proficient in arcane arts. He would be able to teach the princess magic to keep her safe and bring prosperity to the kingdom.*
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> *The priest's son was a cleric, pure of heart and devout. He would be able to guide the princess' spirit, and bring the blessings of the sovereigns to the kingdom.*
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> *The diplomat's son was a bard, quick of mind and sharp of tongue. He would be able to teach the princess how to use words and wits to rule, and his stories would inspire the people of the kingdom.*
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> *The king considered each of the sons, and asked his daughter which she would like for a husband. she asked to spend a week with each, that she might learn of their character and what they have to teach her.*
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> *So she spent a month learning to fight with the soldier, casting spells with the wizard, praying with the cleric, and matching wits against the bard. And though she was young and sheltered, she took to learning with a thirst, always asking questions and pushing herself to improve. By the end of the month, each of the sons had fallen terribly in love with her. At the end of the first act, all the sons have declared their intent to marry the princess.*
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> **ACT 2:**
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> *It is the next day and the king asks the princess if she has chosen a husband. First she says that she wants to show all that she has learned. An elaborate dance and musical sequence follows, showing the way the princess has learned each of the skills of her suitors and has improved upon them by combining elements from each, making something new and exciting.*
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> *the court is astounded, but the question still hangs: who will the princess marry? the king finally asks.*
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> *The princess explains that each of her suitors has taught her well and been kind to her, and that she wouldn't want to break any of their hearts by favouring one over the other. She requests instead that the sons become her Council, that their combined efforts might be the most benefit to all the people of the kingdom.*
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> *This enrages the king and the court, and most of all the sons. They draw their weapons and each accuse the other of interfering. it is only by the king's decree that it doesn't end in bloodshed--that there must be a winner to this contest. The excitement makes the king ill, and he is rushed off stage by doctors.*
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> *The princess despairs that if she were older and stronger, her father wouldn't have to find her a marriage and she would be able to rule alone. She is summoned to her father's bedside and he demands she make a choice. She is torn, but refuses to be pressured. her father's dying breath curses her, saying that her weakness will bring the kingdom to ruin.*
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> *The king's death is announced, and all of the sons take up arms in a war of succession, each determined to conquer the princess' heart. a brutal war begins.*
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> **INTERMISSION -** A fifteen minute intermission, where refreshments are provided.
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> **ACT 3:**
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> *This act details the brutal machinations and fallings out as the kingdom is torn apart by the four suitors as they each fight each other and individually try to confront the princess and win her over, only to be interrupted by the continuing war.*
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> *There is a brief rallying moment where the princess declares herself queen and tries to make the suitors bow to her as their rightful ruler. but instead, they all turn against her together and imprison her. The sons demand she make her choice by dawn, or it will be a contest to the death.*
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> *The princess despairs in her captivity, begging the gods and then the devils to save her and spare her kingdom from the war. in the end, the spirit of Sora Katra answers her pleas and offers her a bargain*
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> *the princess says:*
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> *"I wish for the fools to learn their lesson. that this in-fighting and jealousy will bring only grief and be our ruin. I do not wish to belong to anyone, if I cannot belong to myself."*
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> *Sora Katra gives her a wand and says that if she chooses this path, her kingdom will never be able to go to war with itself once again, though it will cost her dearly.*
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> *The sons summon the princess and demand she makes her choice between them. the princess says no, and a fight breaks out. The sons each grab her, but the princess manages to raise the wand given to her by Sora Katra.*
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> *in an explosion of red light, the princess is torn apart. her blood turns into monsters, her screams turn into deadly smoke, and all the sons are assaulted by the abominations they unleashed. they cry that it is punishment of the gods, or the work of foul magic or weaponry or treachery. but in the end they are all consumed.*
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> *an eerie chorus narrates the end of the play. the kingdom is destroyed entirely, the armies left fighting over scraps and fending off monsters. At the end the scene transitions to the gateway to the world of the dead where the king meets his daughter.*
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> *They have a subdued dialogue, where they blame each other for the wrong doings and failings. the king decries that she couldn't even surrender and accept defeat, and now she has destroyed everything their kingdom ever was and could have been. The princess says no. She refuses to be a prisoner or have her fate defined by anyone but her own.*
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> *She chains herself to the gates of death so that her soul can not slip any deeper. She says she will fight against the tides of death until she is reborn, so that she can reclaim her kingdom and rebuild it. as long as her soul remains, the people shall know of her defiance and her right. that if the fools had not tried to usurp her, they could have had a glorious future.*
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