The Iveni Saga

Act I, Scene I: Prologue

(Enter storyteller, stage right.)

STORYTELLER:

Hear me!

(Waits for crowd to quiet.)

Hear me, for I have here for you a tale,

Writ by the gods, and told today by me,

Of one great war fought viciously and cruel,

And of its many twists, as you shall see.

So set the scene, my fellow travellers,

Lay out the country as you would a quilt.

See Marthala, there by the river's edge,

A mighty city, from strong granite built.

Iveni rules there, queen in her own right,

Ivesh, her son, as councillor by her side.

The people there are virtuous and strong

And pray to Mirisel, the goddess wise.

Now see Kaveyan, see its mighty towers,

A warborn city rests 'pon yonder hill.

And though it's eaten more than one can fathom,

For neighbour's gold and land it hungers still.

There resides Soran, ruler of his land,

He is the one that hungers yet for more.

He dreams to conquer all the world himself,

To seek his gold on many a distant shore.

So hear me, listen long and listen well

To this great tale of tragedy and woe.

And now, let us begin the story here,

As Soran seeks out yet another foe...