Annotated 17-20
I feel like this page sort of annotates itself while John Waltrip does a four-minute guitar solo. So here’s a script page from the trial sequence that, if we had followed our original plan, would’ve begun about now. It’s pretty rough, but you can see how we were trying to bring a few threads from earlier in the chapter into more of a woven rope.
1. Naror’Nj sits atop an impressive-looking ancient tribunal with four of his esteemed fellow elders (this includes Oak’f). He looms over us menacingly leaning forward, an unstoppable pillar of stubbornness ready to tell you no to everything you could ever ask.
NAROR’NJ
We convene tonight in this hastened manner to address the possible infiltration of a terrarist within our home of B’ial Vezk.
NAROR’NJ
I, myself, am the accuser in this case, on the basis of the evidence provided by his very appearance and his choice of arms.
NAROR’NJ
As this is a matter of the kingdom’s security, the prosecution will be carried by the leader of the High Hunting Party.
NAROR’NJ
Do you accept this task, High Hunter?
2. Gr’Zl, standing proudly and wearing formal Wood Elf garb addresses Naror’Nj from atop a lit treestump (the stump is like a small stage, approx 10 feet in diameter). He has a bandage patched over his nose, absolutely ruining the class he accumulated with the rest of his ensemble. He waves his arm out dramatically to a section of the courtroom audience, the room itself set in a very ampitheater like way where all the trees have bent to form the dome and their roots the seating levels (some artificial seating may be added to fill in as needed).
GR’ZL
I do, your grace.
GR’ZL
For I have the privilege of being their discoverer, and am privy to their true natures when we aren’t there to supervise their behavior.
GR’ZL
This vile human and his band came into our territory, guiling one our own people into thinking them trustworthy.
GR’ZL
Just so he can size up the territories that are ripest for chopping.
GR’ZL
With his deadly AXES!
3. Bibli’Oh stands, wearing likewise formal courtroom regalia, stands atop a similar stump. He puts a close fist to his mouth, clearing his throat.
BIBLI’OH
Er-hem.
BIBLI’OH
I am Bibli’Oh, the High Scribe.
BIBLI’OH
And I accept the duty of proving the human’s innocence under the given allegations.
4. Bandit peers around a corner as she’s tailing the cloaked figure to the chamber of Graiya’s Bough. Bibli’Oh voices over for us as she goes.
BIBLI’OH
Though you must see as I do, the apparently deliberate difficulty of the arguments laid before me.
BIBLI’OH
I’m the keeper of the scrolls. I am he who tends the library.
BIBLI’OH
I cannot say as I am an expert on the courtroom.
5. Bandit comes running in the background as we can now clearly see the front side of a lady gnoll thief, heretofor known as Ragga. She reaches up to clutch Graiya’s Bough.
BIBLI’OH
But I do know its purpose is meant for more than making an example of yet another “vile human.”
BIBLI’OH
It is for justice.
BIBLI’OH
It is for the truth.
Well, this isn’t me playing, but I’ve always liked it.
A guitar solo with pencils and inks. Can you dig it?
I can.
So when did “Ragga” become Auraugu?
Was Auraugu originally intended to be female? Or was Ragga a separate character that you ended up not using?
Auraugu sprang more or less fully formed out of Phil’s head for Chapter 13 and had already returned once as Penk’s buddy in 16. In this chapter, we considered creating a new character for this smash-and-grab job, one more identified as a “thief” and therefore a sort of mirror image of Bandit. But at some point we (almost certainly Phil) decided it was preferable to have Auraugu do it instead: his charisma was continuing to grow on us and his history with Bandit could lend the scene as much interest as any “thief v. thief” shenanigans.
I always thought it was a bit weird that the weakness of the bough was a closely guarded secret. Especially since it’s been around for generations. I would of figured that most of the wood elves would of known about it.
But I understand it was necessary to allow for some plot exposition.
This is one of my favorite pages. The annotation doesn’t distract at all from the drawing, and I always sort of envisioning the diagram growing and unfolding like an illustration of a creation story.