Holes/Session 49
A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
< Holes
EXT. Woods - day
The Gravedigger is leading the party east through the woods. The going seems to be largely uphill.
Amadi is no longer with them, having randomly poofed somewhere along the way.
Frezak (Gravy): We may not be led in the right direction, but at least we're being led with a veneer of confidence.
Ganelon (Radek): Misplaced confidence, at that.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I sense... a tree. I speak sooth! Come, friends.
RHU
(looking around at all the other trees nearby)
A tree?
RADEK
...This is how I'm going to die, isn't it?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Don't be silly, Radek. You're going to die at the hands of your second-greatest invention.
The Gravedigger pats Radek reassuringly.
Greibel detours slightly to head toward the tree, and the Gravedigger redirects to follow him.
RHU
(to Greibel)
Oy!
Rhu continues to follow Gravy as he starts following Greibel.
EXT. Large, shaded clearing - afternoon
The woods abruptly end at a large, shaded clearing. In the middle is a massive trunk, situated up on a bit of a rise in the middle of the clearing. Overhead are branches, lots and lots of branches, though from here most of them aren't really even visible.
The ground is mostly just rocks and crap. Thick roots jut out and over the rocks, even sticking out of the ground where it has eroded around them, forming bridges and walkways up to the trunk itself, several metres in diameter. Roots and trunk alike are covered in rough, mossy bark.
There's a presence within the tree, or maybe the tree is the presence. Either way, it seems quite intelligent, and it's watching.
It seems to be humming to itself.
The Gravedigger hums along and inspects the earth.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
This is quality soil.
Greibel steps up to the tree.
GREIBEL
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE'S JOHNNY! HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT! I'VE GOT A PHD IN TREE!
The tree actually seems to recoil a bit at this.
TREE
AGH WHAT?
GREIBEL
COME ON MAN. WHAT YOU GOT? YOU WANNA GO?
TREE
Go what?
Radek watches this, looking disappointed.
GREIBEL
Naw, I'm just kidding.
I sensed you over back there, you seemed important. What's up?
RADEK
So you found a talking tree.
TREE
Ah, bugger man, yeah. I've been found.
GREIBEL
Yeah. That's druids, man. We find trees. Sorry about that.
TREE
Dude. Sorry? You're not sorry. If you were sorry, it'd be all bugs to me. Like nature, what. All prickly and invasive.
Whatcha need?
GREIBEL
Uh... that's a good question. Give me a second.
(To everyone)
Hey, guys! If we hypothetically met a giant tree spirit thing, sentient, intelligent, you know, what would we ask it for?!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Does it do wishes, hypothetically?
DAWN
(from a good distance away)
Hi tree.
TREE
Yo.
Rhu walks around the tree, trying to figure out where the voice is coming from.
TREE
(to Rhu)
Oy, no poking, what.
Rhu backs away.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hello tree.
TREE
Hello, digger.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Digger is in the other comic. Call me Gravy.
TREE
Yeah, man, Gravy.
DAWN
People usually ask for stupid things. Things like power and truth and stuff that just makes things worse. Futures.
RHU
Truth! That's a great idea. We could ask it about truth.
Dawn gives Rhu a very disappointed look.
RADEK
(To Greibel)
Does it know anything about the holes?
Greibel looks back at the tree and shrugs.
GREIBEL
Holes? What's up with them, right?
TREE
Uuuugh. Even worse than nature, holes. Tunnel up through your roots, eating away, burning... BURNING. AGH.
Some old leaves flutter down around the party. A squirrel falls out and scampers off.
Radek does not look impressed.
GREIBEL
Hmmm, I hear ya, man.
DAWN
(to the tree)
Who are you?
TREE
What does it look like? I'm a treee. Been here ages, you know. Wasn't even a forest back then. Bloody elf buggers.
RHU
Have you seen an airship around here anywhere?
TREE
With or without dead folk?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
There's several?
TREE
They come, they go. They avoid my branches.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
How dead are we talking? Ooogly woogly walking dead?
TREE
The dead were moving about, if that's whatcha mean. Like little bugs. Headless and yet still sooo bothersome.
RADEK
(looking up skeptically at the tree)
How do you perceive anything?
TREE
I gots senses, what. You're cold and feel like earth.
Gravy is warm and feels like earth. How do you get along?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I have an endless source of jolliness.
RADEK
We don't.
Ganelon (Radek): Those two answers are probably related.
TREE
Beetles, I see.
Dawn giggles.
The Gravedigger flutters his lashes at Radek.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
You tease.
(he hefts his shovel)
Yeah, airship, dead people?
TREE
Yeah, maaan.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
This isn't a threatening gesture, I was thinking about the dead people.
TREE
They went smash.
As the tree says this, the Gravedigger gets a vague vision of an airship shape and stuff crashing into a bunch of smaller trees.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Sweet.
There's a bit of a crashing in the branches above, and Squirrel falls out of the tree. She bounces up almost immediately, squealing happily, and then just runs off into the rest of the trees, rather like her namesake had done earlier.
Greibel watches for a moment.
GREIBEL
Fun girl.
Radek sees it too, but is 90% sure it didn't actually happen.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(to the tree)
Anything we can do for you while we're here?
TREE
Naw, dude, don't do it. You'll dig too far and it'll get out this time.
RHU
(to the tree)
Are you guys, like, a species or something? We saw a giant tree next to a Hole earlier, but it seemed to be dead. Er, like two hundred years ago on the other side of this planet. Or something.
TREE
Trees, man.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hey, if you could make a platform thing with some branches, maybe airships would stop by on their way past.
TREE
Hmmmm.
There's something of a shuffling really high up in the tree's branches.
TREE
Maaaaybe.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Just a thought. If we see living airship people we'll suggest it.
TREE
Coool, man.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Everyone good to go poke around this airship, then?
(leaning in a swervy fashion toward Radek)
Raaaaadek?
Radek crosses his arms.
Something massive crashes into the branches above, and this time the tree actually seems to notice.
TREE
Whaaaat?
There is a horrible WHOMP as two large figures - the gods Kyrule and Djieka - crash into the ground at high speed, with one propelled downward by the other and taking the brunt of the impact as a result. A cloud of dirt and leaves is thrown outward.
A moment later, branches shower down around everyone, especially the two gods.
Radek narrowly dodges a falling branch. The Gravedigger covers him with his shield.
Rhu, on the other hand, dodges right into a branch and gets clonked on the head. He falls over.
TREE
(directed toward the two gods)
Man, watch it, will you?
GREIBEL
Whoa. Far out.
As everything stops falling down, Amadi randomly appears, brushing some twigs and leaves out of her hair. They are distinctly different from the leaves on any of the surrounding trees.
The Gravedigger goes to check on Rhu.
Rhu seems to be fine, though he just lies there for the time being.
Amadi suddenly notices who one of the gods is and tries to look inconspicuous behind the Gravedigger. Dawn joins her.
The god on top, Kyrule, is a masked woman dressed all in grey, a full meter taller than the Gravedigger. She gets up slowly, her foot rather firmly planted on the other's chest, seemingly oblivious to the damage she has caused around her.
The other one, Djieka, just looks ridiculous. He has gleaming bits sticking out all over, and geometric holes through his form in odd locations, and entirely too many limbs, and too much colour. Some parts are like windows into the cosmos, revealing starfields and more, while others are just unreal. He is all a bit beat up at this point, however, full of twigs and covered in dirt, and leaves, and a bit of what might be blood.
DJIEKA
You can't do this.
KYRULE
I have made my position known, and I have sued for peace, and still you have persisted. Relent. End your futile struggle. Relent.
Apheori (GM): Any interest in interrupting this?
Ganelon (Radek): I'd like to try to uh... identify the ridiculous one? What the hell is it?
Apheori (GM): You're reasonably sure it's some kind of god. Nothing else would be that... excessive.
Ganelon (Radek): And it's gettin' beat up?
Apheori (GM): Yup.
Ganelon (Radek): Then hell no he's not interrupting.
The Gravedigger wanders up and looms in an interested fashion.
DJIEKA
I will not relent! Not to you!
KYRULE
(looking down on Djieka in utter disappointment)
You fool.
She kneels down on top of him, and he tries to pull away, but he's pinned, half-buried already from the force of the impact, and held down, for she is far bigger, far more real, pressing him to the earth.
She curls her fingers on his chest.
KYRULE
(in a half-whisper)
One last chance. Relent.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
'scuse me. You guys gods?
Amadi whimpers a little from behind the Gravedigger.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Because I had some questions.
Kyrule looks up slowly and holds up a finger in Gravy's direction.
KYRULE
A moment, please.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Okay.
Kyrule turns her full attention back on Djieka.
KYRULE
Relent!
Djieka doesn't answer.
Rhu gets up and walks towards the Gravedigger, dusting himself off.
RHU
I think the grey one is Kyrule. Hazz' said he might know about the Holes or something.
(to Amadi)
And you've talked about him from time to... you okay? Why are you whimpering?
Amadi makes shushing motions and pretends she's not there.
DAWN
(to Rhu)
We're not here, okay? Not here.
KYRULE
(to Djieka)
Then I shall have your heart. All of your joy, your hope, your worth, everything that makes you who and what you are, will be taken. Even your light. And your life.
DJIEKA
No!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
That sounds pretty mean. Are you the bad guy? I'm only asking because I might have to interrupt.
Kyrule ignores the Gravedigger's question and draws a strange, brilliant light out of Djieka's chest, and it forms a bit of a ball in her hand. As she does so, he almost seems to come up with it, fighting, trying to get it back, until she pulls it too far away and he falls back, not moving, his colour faded, his reality... lessened.
But not gone.
KYRULE
And you will have nothing.
Amadi tries to really not be there.
Dawn clings to Amadi.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I'm gonna be honest. You don't seem like a very nice entity.
KYRULE
(tilting her head ever so slightly toward the Gravedigger)
I'm not.
Kyrule takes the light, now cupping it in both hands, and presses it to her own chest, and it disappears.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(he shrugs)
At least you're honest about it.
Kyrule rises slowly, focusing on nothing in particular, before finally turning toward the Gravedigger entirely.
The Gravedigger waves.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
So what was that all about, then?
KYRULE
He thought to oppose me, blind to the consequences, the devastation that an all-out war would cause. Most of the gods understood, but only most.
For those who would not relent, I could only show them that there will be other consequences, more personal, more close to home. Fools.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
You sound like the grump. No offense, grump.
RADEK
Don't you think that there are greater concerns at the moment than punishing dissidents? Or is the unraveling of the dimensions somehow beneath you?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(whispering to Radek)
You mean that morally rather than spatially, right?
RADEK
I do not.
KYRULE
Always. Which is why their dissidence could not be allowed to continue.
Kyrule walks around Gravedigger and tries to peer behind him at the midgets.
The Gravedigger rotates to hide the midgets.
The midgets rotate with him.
Kyrule tries to peer over the Gravedigger instead.
The Gravedigger leans over backwards.
Kyrule leans over with him, curving like a noodle.
Gravy gives her a friendly beam to bluff that it's just coincidental that he felt like pivoting and bending backwards.
Dawn leans out and makes shooing gestures with her hands.
RHU
(interrupting the peculiar display of noodliness)
Um, excuse me, Your... Godliness. My god Hazz'ridan the All-End asked me to speak with you.
Kyrule stops and then backs away a bit.
RHU
He thought you might be able to help with these... Holes? Big creepy crack in reality spewing zombies?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Zombies! Shadow stuff. Also a beach, I think.
RHU
Yes! That too.
KYRULE
And your Hazz'ridan could not even bring this up himself, not now, not in the beginning, not ever?
He is not one you should be following, certainly not regarding this.
RADEK
(muttering to Gravy)
...Do you think he'll finally listen now that a god's said it?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
No. Religious people don't listen. That's how they manage to keep it up.
Kyrule smiles slightly under her mask.
RHU
He can't help us as much as he'd like. We need to fix these Holes ourself.
KYRULE
You aren't wrong. The Rifts need to be closed. Unfortunately, where he won't act because the rifts serve his interests, I cannot act.
Radek just rolls his eyes at Kyrule's statement. In a "of course you can't", sort of way.
RHU
His interests?
Anyway, yes, we are attempting to close the Holes. We closed one just a few days ago, but then our shadows came to life and tried to kill us and stuff.
(he points towards Radek)
Well, he did.
KYRULE
His goal is to spread, through whatever means possible. He is as a plague upon the named realms, spreading through and beyond, and where rifts in the fabric of the realms arise, he uses and propagates them further.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hey, Tree? What do you think of this ladypersonthing?
TREE
(to Gravy)
Seems a little different from before, but she's all good, man.
Done something with her hair.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Sweet. Thanks, tree.
KYRULE
(to the tree)
Hey Vivek.
TREE
Hey yourself. What's up, man?
KYRULE
Oh, you know how it is. You die horribly, you put on a new face, you wonder where it all went wrong...
TREE
Oh, no, no idea what you're talking about. No idea at all.
RHU
We're trying to close those rifts. I think he's mostly supportive of this goal.
Assuming those Holes are also rifts, I guess. I don't know if I actually know what we're doing.
KYRULE
Perhaps.
RHU
Are there others out there, trying to close the Holes?
Kyrule ignores Rhu and looks around for anyone smarter.
RADEK
None. They're too busy dismissing my theories.
Radek gives the Gravedigger a sharp glare.
Ganelon (Radek): Uh oh. I was just trying to be snappy but now I've just drawn attention to myself, haven't I?
KYRULE
(to Radek)
Your theories are largely correct, but unfortunately the rifts and thinnies are but small symptoms of the overall problem.
RADEK
I wasn't waiting for your validation, but by all means, continue.
KYRULE
The universe grows thin. It is old and tired, and all the fighting of the worlds simply weakens it further.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
That's cheery.
Ganelon (Radek): She's saying that the expansion of the universe is fucking everything up? I have to IMPLODE THE UNIVERSE to fix this?
KYRULE
Your companion wasn't wrong. I should be fixing this. But Kyrule as Kyrule does not know how. He was not given that knowledge when he was named, for to do so would only have broken his mind.
He must learn on his own, and that is no easy task.
(whispering)
I've only seen it done once before, and it took so many tries before that succeeded, and such great cost.
RHU
Might... Hazz'ridan have that knowledge?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Soooo... Dimensional spackle won't cut it?
RADEK
You'll need to forgive me for refusing to wait patiently for Kyrule to come upon a solution without assistance. To affect change on this scale seems to be impossible, however. I am outnumbered astronomically by the presence of counter-productive fools.
KYRULE
(to Radek)
Please, as with this morning, try to restrain yourself when things go ill - the more damage is done, the worse the overall situation will become. Those fools need not incite you to become equally foolish.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Seeeee? I told you it was a bad idea to shatter the universe!
RADEK
Hmph. It could have served to persuade him.
GREIBEL
HEY LADY! HEY! HEY! HEY LADY! HEY NICE LADY!
Greibel jumps up and down pointing at himself.
GREIBEL
WOOP WOOP!
KYRULE
Um... yes?
GREIBEL
What is your favorite salad?
Kyrule takes off her mask and gives Greibel a long look.
Greibel strikes a pose, rather like a fashion model.
KYRULE
(finally)
Caesar salad, I suppose.
GREIBEL
Oooooooo, excellent choice. Mine's POTATO SALAD! BOINK!
Greibel throws a potato at Kyrule.
Kyrule catches the potato and then looks at it like it's a bit unusual.
Greibel grins knowingly.
RADEK
...As I said, counter-productive fools.
Bear Soup Guy (Greibel): This is all part of his plan that he hasn't thought of yet. And he probably never will.
Ganelon (Radek): Personally I approve wholeheartedly of Greibel's cunning scheme.
RHU
(to Kyrule, knowing full well that she'll ignore him)
Can you help us with any of this? I think we're looking for Holes to experiment on, or other... smart people who can help.
RADEK
That would be useful, yes. If... hrm.
KYRULE
(to Radek)
Your research has made considerable strides already. The question is, what do you intend to do with it?
RADEK
What else? I have to correct this monumental blunder before it's too late.
KYRULE
All of it? Everything?
Do you intend to fix everything, every hole, every tear, every thin spot in the entirety of the fabric of the universe? And when the one is finished, what of the others? Will you move on, universe to universe, until all of the multiverse is solid and absolute, no more holes, no more uncertainty, no more variance in the possibilities that face those within? What then, when you are unto, nay, beyond a god yourself? What will you do but continue as you always have, without reason, only a purpose that has outlived any need? Is this what you want?
When do you stop?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
If you're going to do a job, you do it right. Or until you're tired and feel like a nap.
KYRULE
That works with burying things. Not so much with purpose, or reason. Have you ever buried a god?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Not yet! That I know of. I did a dragon the other day.
RADEK
...Why should I stop?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Because if you remove all variance in the world it would be sad and boring, you boob.
RADEK
The nature of progress is infinite. I can always find a direction to advance in - even the search itself is progress. I will never need to stop.
KYRULE
Gods don't stay buried. That makes it work, because for something that big to simply stay put indefinitely would take a piece of the world away, removed, nonexistent.
Progress shouldn't stay buried either, but if you close it up, remove the opportunities, it loses its potential. It is no longer infinite.
TREE
Just don't go burying anything in my roots, 'kay?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
No probs, Tree.
Radek waves his hand dismissively.
RADEK
If I can reverse the expansion of the universe, I can encourage it as well. The flaws that have led to this catastrophe may yet be corrected.
KYRULE
To find that balance is a hard problem, and why we are in this situation in the first place.
How do you know you will know when to reverse the process back, when you cannot see it with an absolute eye?
Amadi makes a disdainful snort from behind Gravy, forgetting for a moment that she's being not there.
Gaurav (Rhu): Now I want an absolute eye.
Ellemerr (Amadi): Here, take mine. It's been creeping me out anyway.
Kyrule tries walking around Gravy again, this time going the other direction.
The Gravedigger pivots amiably.
KYRULE
(leaning over him awkwardly)
You still dig holes, yes?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Yep.
TREE
Dude, not in my roots you don't.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
'S cool, Tree. Chill out.
KYRULE
Bury things?
TREE
As long as it's not in my roots.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Yep.
KYRULE
(indicating the nearby god corpse)
Would you like to bury a god?
The Gravedigger is silent for a while.
The Gravedigger stares at the dirt and the stars.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(finally)
Yes.
But first I must hide my mmm-----aaaarigolds?
KYRULE
Just as long as it's not petunias. I don't think we could take it if it were petunias.
The Gravedigger starts shuffling backwards slowly.
RADEK
...What's wrong with him?
Kyrule tries to keep a straight face.
KYRULE
He needs to hide his... marigolds. From me. For reasons.
(yelling after Gravy)
I can see right through you, you know!
RHU
Why petunias? Why not petunias?
The Gravedigger scoots back behind the treeline and hides his... flowers behind a tree.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(yelling around the tree)
JUST PUTTING AWAY MY... UH... FLOWERS. YES SIRREE.
The Gravedigger returns a bit later, midget-free, and considers the god corpse.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Okay, tree, where's a good place for me to bury this here god?
TREE
Hmmmmm. How about...
The tree shuffles a bunch of roots around, finally making a space for a grave a bit off to the side.
TREE
Here?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Great.
(he pulls up imaginary sleeves)
Let's do this!
The Gravedigger gets to digging, humming the tree song.
While Gravy's digging and the midgets are stowed, Kyrule seems to address Radek. For some reason she's looking at Greibel, however.
KYRULE
Your process for closing the rifts. Would you be willing to give a demonstration?
Greibel is making faces. Stretching the skin out on the sides of his face with his hands. Pulling the porridge over his face like a beekeeper's mask.
Radek is looking at Greibel too, since it seems like the topical thing to be doing at the moment.
RADEK
Of course.
It is only recently tested, however. I cannot guarantee a consistent result after only a single trial.
KYRULE
Of course.
Even if it should fail, however, it should give me the data needed to run comprehensive tests.
Radek glances at Kyrule curiously for a moment.
RADEK
Do you know where I could find a rift to close, then? If opening one is unacceptable.
KYRULE
I have just a one in mind.
Meanwhile, Dawn and Amadi are hiding behind a random tree at the edge of the forest, when Squirrel sudden drops down out of its branches, grinning.
Amadi makes alternatively shooing and shushing motions.
Squirrel takes Amadi's and Dawn's hands and tries to make them dance with her.
Amadi tries to hit Squirrel over the head with a spatula with her other hand.
Squirrel lets go and dances away, pulling Dawn out toward the clearing.
Amadi watches fretfully.
Dawn tries to grab Amadi instead in order to not be pulled.
Amadi hands Dawn the spatula.
Dawn uses the spatula on Squirrel, and Squirrel finally lets go and just runs out on her own.
Squirrel runs up to Kyrule and then just stares up at her, grinning.
Amadi watches apprehensively, peering around the side of the tree.
Dawn does the same thing, poking her head around the tree over Amadi's.
Kyrule sighs heavily.
Ganelon (Radek): It's like staring into a mirror. Except they're not scared of me!
Kyrule picks up Squirrel and walks over to the tree with Amadi and Dawn behind it.
Amadi meeps and backs away around the tree.
Dawn just stands there.
Kyrule drops Squirrel in front of Amadi before she can back away entirely.
Around this point, the Gravedigger finishes digging his hole and tries to move the god corpse over to it, but it is apparently too heavy for him to actually move.
He peers around to see if anyone is looking at him, but the others all seem to be distracted by Kyrule and the midgets. Aside from Greibel, who appears to be distracted by a large glowing ball of not-quite-water hovering in front of his face.
So the Gravedigger has a go at grabbing hold of space and scrunching up the bits between the god corpse and the hole to get it there without moving it.
Frezak (Gravy): I can do that, right? Right?
Unfortunately it doesn't actually work. (rolled 8 reality)
The Gravedigger sighs.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Um, 'scuse me. Help with this thing?
The Gravedigger boots the god corpse.
Rhu goes over to the Gravedigger to help with the god corpse, but when he tries to touch it, his hand passes right through it.
Then Rhu picks up a rock and bounces it off the god corpse experimentally. It's a fairly ordinary bounce, and the rock doesn't seem to go through it at all.
A root shifts slightly underneath it, but then the tree doesn't do anything else to help.
The Gravedigger suddenly notices his marigolds have been found, and have also been joined by another, bright red one, and looks around in feigned surprise.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
OH GOSH GOD MIDGETS. WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
Amadi gives up on hiding and pretends she hasn't noticed Kyrule at all until now.
AMADI
Oh, Kyrule! Hello; I didn't see you there. It's been much too long. I trust you've been well?
DAWN
Oh, um, hello.
Amadi still backs away around the tree, trying to make it inconspicuous, trying to get closer to the Gravedigger.
Kyrule just leaves Squirrel there and then scoots back toward the Gravedigger from the other side of the small tree.
Amadi stops and looks a little surprised. That went way better than she'd thought.
A moment later, Squirrel runs out after Kyrule.
DAWN
(to Amadi)
I guess it's all right, then? He did say he was sorry before.
AMADI
He did?
DAWN
He did.
AMADI
Oh. Who?
DAWN
Kyrule. Fred. Him.
(she points)
Her?
AMADI
Oh! He did? When?
DAWN
I think he did. You weren't there.
AMADI
Oh... huh. Where was I?
DAWN
Dreaming.
AMADI
Well, duh.
DAWN
But not the first time. The first time you were dying. We all were.
Amadi nods.
DAWN
I'm remembering.
AMADI
(she shudders)
...Much? ...All?
Dawn nods, looking scared.
Amadi looks scared too.
Rhu is holding a rock, looking at the god corpse in confusion.
KYRULE
(to Rhu)
It's not you, but your faith.
RHU
My faith?
KYRULE
Yes.
RHU
...my lack of faith, you mean.
KYRULE
You have faith, though it has been twisted and broken by the trials you have gone through.
(she hands Gravy a scythe)
Hook him with that; it'll move him.
Kyrule picks up Squirrel again, and then just holds her up to her face, glaring.
The Gravedigger examines the scythe and waggles it around a bit. It's large, black, a bit fancy, and feels very, very dangerous, with the weight of the worlds behind it. It feels a little bit like the shovel should. A little.
Then he hooks the god corpse with the scythe and drags it over to the grave.
KYRULE
(holding up Squirrel toward the party)
Tell me, do you want this one?
Squirrel cackles and squirms.
RHU
That's a new one. We've only met her once before. Hazz'ridan said that they were keys, but I'm not sure he included that one. But I think he included the one that was the skull, but we lost that in midnight.
AMADI
She's included.
(muttering)
Like it or not.
Kyrule gives Rhu a disdainful look.
Radek gives Squirrel a concerned look.
RADEK
Is she... necessary?
KYRULE
No. Ask the key if you need her.
RADEK
Good, good...
KYRULE
(to Squirrel)
Go back to your dream.
Kyrule drops Squirrel, but the midget poofs out of the world before hitting the ground.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
(over the newly-planted grave)
This. Is one sweet grave. If I do say so myself.
Radek digs the puzzle out of his bag of things.
RADEK
(to Kyrule)
Since you seem to be rather helpful for a god... would you have any insights into this device?
(he holds up the puzzle box device)
I haven't taken much time to study it. I've been busy with other things.
Ganelon (Radek): Like getting lost in the forest.
KYRULE
I'm afraid I couldn't tell you much about it. According to history, its creation and destruction never happened, and for that alone it may be worth study.
RADEK
...Fascinating.
While functional, it lacks pieces. I cannot say how many.
KYRULE
To find out, you may need to consider how to examine pieces of the universe that no longer exist in the universe.
RADEK
...I'd rather not displace myself from the universe a second time.
KYRULE
Indeed.
The Gravedigger wanders up and gives Kyrule back the scythe.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hey guys. I buried a god. What did YOU do today?
KYRULE
(to Gravy)
It is a good grave.
The Gravedigger beams.
TREE
Earth and roots.
