Bitter Lake - Trust is a Fickle Thing Transcribed by Ocelynk List of places: Daneth, with the ports Sinnah, with the farms? Tier, to the east Osgard, to the north List of characters: Colonel Raden Drraer, black horned wolfy person, representing Osgard Belora dan Winters, white horned person Prince Arden of Tolver, whitish wolfy person Careth Dale, foxy person, representing Daneth Prince Arden's brother Aelric, whitish wolfy person Scene 1: Prologue Narrator: It is the year of our lady sixteen hundred and two. With the violent assassination of the high council and its leader, King Leoric of Tolver, comes an end to one hundred and thirteen years of peace. At the hands of the dark brotherhood, the once pround and noble kingdom of Valanor plummets into chaos and disarray. Instead of crowning the rightful heir, the boy prince Arden of Tolver, king of Valanor, the leaders of the four provinces of Tier, Sinnah, Daneth, and Osgard start to vie for power themselves. After months of quarrel, fruitless negotiations, and vile treachery, the inevitable happens. Civil war erupts. Twelve terrible years follow. Years of anger, deception, hunger, and fear. But as the years pass, and the war has taken its toll, the people of the broken kingdom grow weary, and cry out for a truce. And so, in secrecy and haste, the leaders of the four provinces decide that each of them will send an envoy to parley on neutral ground to see what can be salvaged of their broken kingdom, and perhaps bring peace back to Valanor. Scene 1.5: Opening titles Titles: EZwolf and Shay Motion Pictures proudly present In association with Eurofurence e. V. Bitter Lake Stoelbank Forfaox EZwolf Rin Written & directed by Shay Director of photography & production designer EZwolf Music composed & performed by Fox Amoore Scene 2: A mysterious plot Atrius the Darkbringer: My Friend, I write to you in all haste to inform you that the plan needs to be expedited before we miss our window of opportunity. Meet the mark at the aforementioned location as planned, but be there four days ahead of time. The rest of the plan remains unchanged. I will know when you have been successful. Until then, remain hidden. There will be no peace in Valanor, not as long as the dark brotherhood exists. Stay true to the cause, and may the shadows embrace you. Atrius, the darkbringer Scene 3: A mysterious walk in the woods Assassin: The Brotherhood sends its regards. Scene 4: Which door should I use? Belora: Prince of Tolver, you took your sweet time getting here. Arden: Lady dan Winters, I see Sinnah's hospitality hasn't changed over the years. Belora: You wool-headed fool. Raden: Prince finally decides to show up. Hell's bitches. Belora: Prince Arden of Tolver, Colonel Raden Drraer of Osgard, and the butcher of Daneth, Careth Dale. Belora: Right, we'd better start these negotiaions. I think I speak on behalf of everyone present that these talks can't be over soon enough. Scene 5: They talk Arden: What is wrong with you people? I have been repeating the same thing over and over again. I will not abdicate. The throne is my birthright. Careth: Be that as it may, we all have to make concessions if we are to come to some sort of agreement. Arden: Concessions? The right of succession was taken from me by each and every one of you. This is not negotiable. Raden: I think what they mean to say is, that ruling over Valanor and thus over us makes what you ask a very... precarious thing. If we were to concede and raise you to become king of Valanor, we would put everything in your hands. Trade, foreign affairs, our armies. You can't handle everything yourself. So who would you put in charge of those? Your half-wit of a brother? Arden: My brother has nothing to do with this. I ask for the throne. That what is mine by birthright, not for your solemn obedience. What if we... reinstate a new high council? They went over my father's every decision. Careth: Yes, and see where that got him. Careth: I'm sorry, force of habit. Raden: I hate to say it, but the prince has a point here. If we are to give him back the crown, you will need to be kept in check. Now, a new high council could facilitate in that and more. There would however be one minor detail. The armies of Valanor. Belora: Of course, why didn't I see that one coming? Your darling armies. If there were to be a new high council, I take it you'd be seated to his august Majesty's right in the high commander's seat? Raden: All I am saying is that I think it would be prudent to keep any official decision concerning matters of military action out of the hands of one single man. Careth: Out of the hands of one and right into the hands of another. I think I like the idea of the prince's retarded brother better. Raden: Like the high council would protect Valanor from any unjust action taken by its king, so too would it decide on military matters. Matters of state, trade, anything. Careth: Thank you for mentioning trade, Colonel. As you all know, Daneth holds over eighty percent of the coastal borders and maintains the two largest ports in Valanor. In the last twenty-five years, we have made trade routes to many a different kingdom, and have set up deals all across Valanor. I will not see our work go to waste. Belora: Are you out of your bloody mind? You want total control of all matters of trade within Valanor? Careth: Well, governed by the high council, of course. It is only normal to have us do so. I mean, we've been doing a great job maintaining it for years. Belora: I don't think the people of Sinnah would agree with you there. You think we've forgotten about the insane prices you ask for the things we need to maintain our fields? Do you think we keep accepting the insultingly low prices you offer us for our crops we sell? If we were to stop selling you our crops, the fruit of our labor, your precious trade empire, would collapse. Careth: Well, what has been stopping you? Belora: Exactly. We thought the very same thing. That is why it is perhaps best to tell you gentlemen that there have been talks amongst the Sinnan leaders. Talks of an independent Sinnah. Careth: What? That is an outrage. Arden: Belora, you can't be serious. Belora: Oh, trust me. This is me being very serious. What would the rest of Valanor be without the fields and farms of Sinnah? Who would feed your precious armies? Who would keep your trade empire stocked? Who would keep you firmly on the throne? With independence, we can topple you all. Raden: Hell's bitches, leave a woman in charge and they'll come up with the most preposterous ideas. I think your blind hatred and your own petty ambitions have blinded you from seeing a few very minor details, my dear. Yes, your produce feeds our armies, but who protects your farms from raiders? Who would protect you from an invasion from the south? Careth: And who would sell your produce? Are you going to try and compete with Daneth? We can undercut your every price. Sinnah might hold the most fields in Valanor, but let me remind you, dan Winters, it is not the only province with them. Arden: The enemy of my enemy can be my ally. Have you ever thought about that, Belora? What if we decide that Sinnah is our common enemy, and pool our resources together? Where will independence take you then? No, independence is not an option. Not for Sinnah, nor for any province. Tier, Osgard, Daneth, and Sinnah, they are all part of Valanor, and if we are to reforge our broken kingdom, everyone will have to mend their ways. Careth: Agreed, talks of independence are for knitting old women. Raden: Gentlemen, I think we have enough to chew on for tonight. We all know what is on the table, and what is not. Might I suggest we reconvene tomorrow morning? Scene 5: The night Arden: You wanted to see me. Belora: Yes, I thought I made that clear in my note. Arden: Come, then. Let us walk a little. Arden: So, what is it you wanted to talk about? You know I will never accept independence. Belora: My prince, can't you see that Sinnah is being used as a tool by both Osgard and Daneth alike? Twelve years we've had to deal with random raiding by rebellious military patrols, despicable merchants that offer us too low prices for our crops. Arden: Do you really think that I didn't see all that? But what would you have me do? When Sinnah announced my claim to the throne, your leaders brought upon them what they have been suffering for twelve years. Belora: I know. I think I've known that since the war started. But I can't ignore this any longer. I was sent here to see what all of you had to say. Arden: Belora, Belora: Don't think for one second you mean anything to me. You're not my king yet, if ever. Independence will set my people free. Arden: Independence will bring Osgard and Daneth down on you even harder. Rebellious patrols will turn into raging marauders, and the low prices will turn into no price at all. Your crops will wither within a year. Belora: You are just like all the others. You sit on your soft chairs, dress up for your fancy parties where your biggest concerns are what shirt to wear and what lady to drool over. You have no idea what we go through. I was a fool to turn to you. You are as blind and selfish as those other two. Scene 6: Mysogyny Raden: You look disturbed, Prince Arden. Arden: It's this notion Belora has of an indenpendent Sinnah. If she sticks to those ideas, these talks will fail. Raden: Women act out of emotion, Prince Arden. That is why Osgard refuse to take on female soldiers during our enlistment campaigns. They let their hearts guide them. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a cold bastard, I am not without feelings, but when you are at war, up to your knees in corpses, and a thousand men race towards you, swords drawn and out for your blood, the last thing you need is to wonder if each and every one of those men has family at home, waiting anxiously for their father or brother or husband to return. Arden: I understand exactly what you mean, Colonel. My father taught me at a very young age that the kingdom comes first, and that what I want comes into play last, if at all. Raden: Despite what has been said about your father, I knew him to be an honorable and cunning man. He had what it took to lead Valanor, and I see some of that in you. I sensed it even in your half-witted brother. Arden: Belora asked me to meet her last night. Raden: Let me guess, she wanted to see if you could be persuaded to help her cause. Arden: No, she came to blame me for Tier not protecting Sinnah when her people needed help. Radnen: Her people made a choice twelve years ago. They turned their backs on you, and now she expects you to help them? Arden: Exactly what I told her. Careth: Ah, sorry for interrupting. I will leave. Arden: No, Mr. Dale. There is no need for that. I was about to leave anyway. Arden: By the way, have you seen Lady dan Winters this morning? Careth: No, now that you mention it, I haven't seen her since she ran off last night. Arden: Hmm, Thank you. Raden: If only the boy knew what really happened twelve years ago, huh, Dale? Careth: My dear Colonel, I have no idea what you mean. Scene 7: Most of the characters die Arden: Belora? Arden: Belora? Are you in here? I'm sorry for last night. Arden: Belora? Arden: By the lady's light! Arden: Sister, take heed. There is an assassin amongst you? Raden: Prince Arden, are you- Hell's bitches, boy, what did you do? Arden: I- I did nothing. I- I found her like this not more than a few minutes ago. Raden: Throat slit, she's cold as ice. She's been dead for at least a few hours. What is it you have there? Arden: She's- she's dead. She stormed off because I told her the truth, and now she's dead. Raden: Get a grip on yourself. Now what is it you have there? Arden: She had this clutched in her hand. It- it's a note of warning that there is an assassin in our midst. Raden: An assassin? Hell's bitches. I expected things to turn to blood and guts the moment we got here. Took 'em long enough. This changes nothing, you hear? It just means we have to be more careful. Arden: This changes nothing? What about- what about Sinnah's bid in the negotiations? Raden: Calm down, boy. Her death is a tragedy, yeah. But with an assassin around, we have a bigger problem on our hands. If they interrupt the negotions now, Arden: Ah! There are- there are hidden barbs in the handle of the cursed blade. Oh, I- I don't- I feel dizzy. Raden: Prince arden? Arden: What is happening? Raden: Poison, son. Hell's bitches, bloody poison! I am truly sorry. Arden: My- my brother. Take care of him. Raden: I will see to it, my boy. I will. Careth: Son of a whore. What the hell did you do? Raden: This is not of my doing. He found dan Winters over there, and then cut himself on the poisoned barbs hidden in the hilt. Careth: An assassin? Aye, it appears that the boy found him, alright. Raden: Not so fast. The note says there is an assassin in our midst. That means there is a fifth person here. That, or the assassin is either you or me. And I know for a fact it isn't me. Careth: Fith person? While you hold the dagger that killed two envoys? I walked in just as you took the Prince's life. To me that makes you look a hell of a lot like an assassin. Raden: You have nothing on me, Dale. I didn't kill the boy. Careth: And her? Do you deny killing her too? Scene 8: Raden looks around Careth: What does it feel like, Drraer? Having the blood of a king on your hands? Raden: Why do you ask? You of all people should know what it feels like. Careth: I'm not the one that cut down a prince. I'm not the one that killed our future king. Raden: From the first time you showed up, I had my reservations about you. Something was off. I just couldn't put my finger on it. But you just made a terrible mistake, assassin. The game is up. Careth: Reverse tactics? Is that the best you can come up with, old man? You are the assassin here. Your name will be known throughout history as Raden the Kingslayer. Raden: Oh, please. You can stop your act. I might be a lot of things, but assassin is not one of them. I applaud you, really. You performed remarkably well. You were always one step ahead of them. But you never fooled me. The real Careth Dale would have known what it would feel like to have a king's blood on his hands. Not many people know that it was him that assassinated Leoric of Tolver some twelve years ago. He started the events that led to war. And I met Dale twice since then. You might bear some resemblance, but you are not him. Careth: Ah, you got me there, old man. Then I guess there's no point in lengthening this charade any longer, is there? Raden: Who sent you? It wasn't Osgard, and I doubt any of the other provinces would object to peace. Careth: Peace? Is that all you care for? Not everyone is as keen on peace as you, Colonel. Raden: The dark brotherhood, then. No matter, let's get this over with. Careth: You are welcome to try. Scene 9: The long duel Raden: I know you are in here. Face me, coward! Careth: My dear Colonel, my master warned me not to engage in a one-on-one with you. Raden: Did he now? Why don't you come out and see if he spoke the truth? Raden: A valiant attempt, but not enough. Give up, you rotten bastard. We both know you can't win. Careth: Never judge a book by its cover, my dear, dear, Colonel. Careth: You want peace, old man? Let me be the one that hands it to you. Die well, Colonel Drraer. Scene 10: Everyone is evil Careth: Master, I received your summons. I am honored. The task you put before me- Atrius: Hmmm? Careth: It has been done. Atrius: Ah. I know, I know. You did a fine job. Come, rise. Before us lies the future of a free Valanor. You have done the Brotherhood a great favor. You have done me a great favor. Careth: Huh? Atrius: For years I have lived in the shadow of my brother. For years I have plotted and schemed, pretending to be the half-wit they all thought I was. Ironic, really, that the man they hated, loathed, and hunted was right there under their very noses. No-one in their right mind would think that I could be the leader of the Dark Brotherhood. I am Atrius the Darkbringer, or as you might know me, Prince Aelrich of Tolver. Careth: Master, I- I do not want to question you... Atrius: In light of what you have done for me, I will forgive you your transgression. I will explain, but first of all you must know that trust is a fickle thing. Now, as you are aware, the best way to kill a snake is to cut off its head. That is exactly what I, or should I say you, have done. In one fell swoop you have severed the heads of four snakes. And in doing so quenched a rebellion, silenced a seperatist, and removed a devious madman from power. My first move, the removal of the so-called Butcher of Daneth and have you take is place was the easiest by far. All it took was a misguiding letter and a well-planned ambush. In less than two minutes, the whole of Daneth was leaderless. Murderer of my father, the traitor Careth Dale, finally got what he deserved. Secondly, Belora dan Winters. Or should I say the scheming bitch from Sinnah. She, who behind the back of every noble in the kingdom, planned to incite the good people of her province in a vain attempt for independence. Independence that would leave Valanor without farms, fields, and crops. I think not. And last to fall, the instigator of the rebellion that started this whole damn civil war: Colonel Raden Drraer. The man was no fool, but a cunning, power-hungry, and very unpredictable adversary. That made him the most dangerous of the four by far. You handled him remarkably well, I have to say. Not an easy feat. Careth: And what of your brother? Atrius: Ha, my ridiculously predictable brother? Indeed, he was keen on doing what was right for his people. So keen, in fact, that he never chose to look my way. I could do whatever I wanted, and he never knew. He died because he smiled sickening lies to my face, called me a retard behind my back. He was a fool. He deserved what he got. Enough of this. Careth: What comes next? What will happen now? Atrius: Now? Now there will be peace. I will reunite the four rebellious provinces and claim what is rightfully mine: the throne of Valanor. Careth: The four provinces didn't accept your brother's claim to the throne. What makes you think they would bow to you? Atrius: I don't think I like your tone, but they will bow to me. I am, after all, one of the victims too. I am the heartbroken brother to a noble but very dead prince. I could not possibly go on without him, but I sure as hell am going to try. Osgard, Tier, Sinnah, and Daneth. The will all swear alliegance and wage war against an enemy they will never find. I will tell them what the Dark Brotherhood did, and how I avenged them all after the events at Bitter Lake. All I need to do is simply bring them this, a letter I found, and I will need to bring them the head of Atrius the Darkbringer, of course. Careth: What? How? You are Atrius the Darkbringer. Atrius: Oh, no. You see, the clever thing about being both heir to the throne and the leader of the Dark Brotherhood is that I can make everyone believe that Atrius the Darkbringer is whomever I say he is. Careth: I- I don't- Atrius: Of course you don't understand. I counted on it. It's nothing personal, my friend. As I said, trust is a fickle thing. Scene 11: Closing credits Credits: Written and directed by: Michael Wolf Visser Director of photography: EZ Wolf Actors (in order of appearance): Atrius the Darkbringer: Stoelbank real Careth Dale: KwisA Assassin: Forfaox Prince Arden of Tolver: Stoelbank Belora dan Winters: Rin Colonel Raden Drraer: EZ Wolf Dark Brotherhood Assassin: Forfaox Prince Aelric of Tolver: Stoelbank Messenger (AKA The Gliding Gnome): Rin 'A Friend': Michael Wolf Visser Executive Producer: EZ Wolf Producer: Michael Wolf Visser Associate Producer: Eurofurence e. V. Music composed and performed by: Fox Amoore Flute performances by: Stephen "Lanovran" Cumberworth Violin performances by: Ryan "Pacato" Freres Trailer music vocals performed by: Bonnie "Asianeko" Newell Voices of Colonel Raden Drraer & Careth Dale performed by: Dylan Nagel Voice of Belora dan Winters performed by: Lucy RedPanda Voices of Prince Arden of Tolver, Prince Aelric of Tolver, Prologue Narrator and 'A Friend' performed by: Michael Wolf Visser Screenplay by: Michael Wolf Visser EZ Wolf Akuro Edited by: EZ Wolf 2nd camera operator: Tillikum 3rd camera operator: Nikoshi Best boy light & grips: Nikoshi On site sound engineer: KwisA Set designers: EZ Wolf Michael Wolf Visser Introduction graphics by: Big Blue Fox Prologue art by: Stoelbank Animal costumes & masks by: Clockwork Creature Studio Clothing and Armour: Games 'n Stuff Zwolle Minny Visser Map of Valanor created by: Bas van Lingen On site catering: Tom Lord Bitter Lake website by: Forfaox Stoelbank Tillikum Special thanks to: Cheetah TWLL - Tungro - Cosmo - Wasbu Fairlight - Zoe - Loewie Special thanks to: Huub en Adelbeid Kortekaas Femmigje Kortekaas Bed & Breakfast Het Hoogh Huys - Winssen Fam. van der Sandt Special thanks to: Historisch Openluchtmuseum Eindhoven Shot on location in mars, France Shot on location in Winssen - Bergharen - Eindhoven, The Netherlands Mars, the main Bitter Lake film location in France can be rented for holidays. Visit: http://tinyurl.com/bitterlake Bitter Lake was recorded with Canon camera's and optics Picture Styles provided by Technicolor Post produced with Apple Final Cut Pro No real fur or other animal parts were used in the making of this film www.bitterlakethemovie.com Scene 12: The cliffhanger Aelric: Come. A friend: My king, forced peace is like trust: A very fickle thing indeed. Signed, a friend.