Knight-Kings of Lightninghold
OPEN ON: SECURITY ARCHIVE HUB
PLAYER: [Watch the security archive dated 11 months ago.]
GM TEXT: [The video feed flickers onto the screen. In it, you find Philip standing in the corner of the room that you’re in now. He looks haggard, exhausted, and he carries a haunted look in his eyes.
Heiner is notably absent.]
GM TEXT: [Cheap, synthesized music pipes in from somewhere off-screen. Philip turns to stare in the direction that the music came from.
A smooth baritone voice sings out a phrase in Slovak. A half-second later, a different voice shouts out a translation in German.]
GERMAN ANNOUNCER: KNIGHT-KINGS OF LLLLLIGHTNINGHOLD!
CUT TO: PARTY NPCs
BLITZ: Oh, man! That’s it, that’s the show! I forgot how bad the dub job was!
CUT TO: SECURITY ARCHIVE
GM TEXT: [Philip stares, glassy-eyed, as the show begins. The synthesized music blares.]
TROLL ‘ACTOR’: [A deep, trollish voice rumbles out of the media center’s speakers.]
I, Titonious Rex, will DEFEND my REALM! I do so swear it before my MAGIC SWORD, *ARGO-NAR!*
THIS, I DO SWEAR!
ELF ‘ACTRESS’: [An alarmingly breathy elvish voice sings out in response.]
But Titonious! The Jubuthon hordes will smite you if you stay!
The people in that valley are only peasants. You needn’t throw your life away for them! Flee with me, into the Enchanted Wood of Trala-sheen!
CUT TO: PARTY NPCs
EIGER: Please make this stop.
CUT TO: SECURITY ARCHIVE
TROLL ‘ACTOR’: My life is sworn to PROTECT those PEASANTS, she-elf! Run back to your enchanted trees if you will, but a KNIGHT-KING will *NEVER* flee!
ELF ‘ACTRESS’: But Titonious!
[Her voice comes out in a lilting wail.]
You cannot die! I… I *love* you!
TROLL ‘ACTOR’: Then go to your father, and beseech him to rally his elf-troops southward! For if TITONIOUS REX falls, LIGHTNINGHOLD will fall! And Lightninghold WILL NOT FALL!
GM TEXT: [The troll drones on, audibly struggling to emote and occasionally tripping over his lines. Overall, the acting quality is roughly on par with what you’d expect from a primary school Christmas pageant.
Philip stares at the screen, listlessly chewing his meat. His nose is wrinkled in distaste, and his fists clench and unclench.
Mercifully, the video feed cuts to static.]
RETURN TO: SECURITY ARCHIVE HUB
PLAYER: [Watch the security archive dated 8 months ago.]
GM TEXT: [The screen flickers, and a video feed of Philip pops onto the screen.
He’s standing in the corner, watching an episode of ‘Knight-Kings of Lightninghold.’ His jaw hangs slack, and he stares at the screen in rapt attention.]
ELF ‘ACTRESS’: ...But Father! Titonious Rex is risking his life—nay, his very SOUL—to defend Lightninghold from the Jubuthons!
His enchanted sword, Argo-Nar, *feeds* upon his honor and bravery, and it seeks to transform him from a noble Knight-King into an evil Demon Lord!
GM TEXT: [Philip’s lips move silently, mouthing the words as they are spoken. Evidently, he has committed the entire script to memory.]
ELDERLY-SOUNDING ELF ‘ACTOR’: My darling daughter, that is *why* I cannot send my troops. Your beloved Titonious Rex walks the knife’s edge between light and darkness every time he draws that devil-blade from its scabbard.
It is long past time that you learned the truth about me, Brenna-thay. *I* was the one who trapped the Demon Lord Karabork within that blade.
ELF ‘ACTRESS’: [The breathy actress lets out a sharp gasp. Phil mimes the motion, and a tear begins to trace its way down his cheek.]
But Father! You can’t mean…
ELDERLY-SOUNDING ELF ‘ACTOR’: Yes, my daughter.
*I* was the one they called ‘THUNDERSPEAR’—the sworn enemy of Titonious Rex’s people, the Honga barbarian tribe!
ELF ‘ACTRESS’: Then all of this is your fault! The Jubuthons, the threat to my beloved’s soul… all of it!
ELDERLY-SOUNDING ELF ‘ACTOR’: It was the only way to save Trala-sheen, my darling daughter.
Trala-sheen… and your *mother,* whom I hid away when you were but a girl. She’s *still alive,* Brenna-thay!
GM TEXT: [A security drone floats by to inspect Philip. Idly, he reaches out and begins to stroke its casing, petting it as if it were a house cat.
The video feed flickers and sputters out, and you find yourself back at the main menu.]
RETURN TO: SECURITY ARCHIVE HUB
PLAYER: [Watch the security archive dated today.]
GM TEXT: [The screen flickers, and Philip appears. He appears to be dancing with one of the security drones.
The little machine weaves and bobs frantically to avoid colliding with him, and with every motion, the lab tech slides in to fill the empty space.]
GM TEXT: [Around and around they go, twirling and writhing across the laboratory floor. There is an enormous smile on Philip’s face.
Then the lights go dim, and an alarm begins to sound.]
SECURITY DRONE: Danger. Danger. Intruder Detected.
Security Protocols Engaged.
PHILIP REX: I admire your bravery, noble vassal.
[Philip rests a hand on top of the little drone.]
But this is *my* fight. I, Philip Rex, will defend this land with my life—indeed, with my very soul!
SECURITY DRONE: Sir. Please Clear the Area. Hostiles Inbound.
PHILIP REX: No, noble spirit. It is *you* who must…
SECURITY DRONE: I Repeat: Clear the Area.
Hostiles Inbound.
PHILIP REX: [He nods slowly, his face beaming with pride.]
Maybe you’re right. I am already a Knight-King; perhaps this is *your* time to shine.
I will not rob you of this moment of glory. I will allow you your moment in the sun! And when you return victorious, I will grant you lands and titles to reward your heroism.
SECURITY DRONE: Please Clear the Area.
GM TEXT: [Philip turns and steps out of camera range. The drone is joined by two others, which wait in a holding position facing the camera.
The picture breaks into static, and the video feed cuts off.]
—“Lockdown,” Shadowrun: Dragonfall—Director’s Cut
