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The Troyan War
Presented by the Romero Theatre of Performing Arts
Dramatis Personae
The Aikeans
Dominic Valken – Dominios, High King of the Aikeans
Valencia Ironside – Valencia, former Amazon Warrior-Queen, his wife
Leon Santiago – Leonike, King of Santiago
Bernhard Greer – Bernados, Prince of the Murderdons
Matthias Greer – Mathios, Prince of the Murderdons
Luca Pavone – Pavones, King of Feenicks
Wulfe Stones – Battle Captain Stonesy
Darryl Murdoch – Darrylius, King of Headquartus
Flint Vanderhuge - Vanderhuge
Talbain – Talbanos, from some thundery mountain
Old Salt – Old Salty the Wise
Henry Morris – Moriseus, King of Doshington
Charlie Coast – Coastus, King of Wolfen
Aleksei Voronov – Vorenos, Aikean warrior
The Troyans
Vladimirus Corcyra – Corcyrus, King of Troy
Cassefin Montreal – Cassiope, Queen of Troy
Jack Hamilton – Hamiltor, Prince of Troy
Zyv Rakowski – Zyvos, Prince of Troy
Fian Vel Steyr – Fianor, Prince of Troy
Sawyer Aubrey – Aubreuos, Prince of Troy
Phaedra Volkov – Phaedra, Queen of Santiago
Laura Romero – Laurania, Queen of Amazons
Bastilen Wreno – Bastiles, Troyan Warpriest
Max Carter – Carteas, King of Kennewesia
Eric Spence – Enrike, Prince of Delsauros
Spacecase Jack – Espaceia, Princess of Troy
Antonia Stark – Antonia, Amazon shieldmaiden
Rita Stenton – Stentoria, Amazon shieldmaiden
Lisa Simmons – Lisana, Amazon shieldmaiden
Jessica Kowalski – Jessintha, Amazon shieldmaiden
Violet De Luca – Violana, Amazon Priestess
Yuuko Barton – Bartesia, Amazon Healer
Shang Zhi Kai – Sankos, Troyan Spymaster
Others
Pyros Westwood – Pyrozeus, Supreme God
Book 2
Yet what of the Troyans?
With doom fast approaching, were they lax in their prepration?
Nay for as the great Jukebox says,
when the errant Prince Aubreous did return with buxom lover
and hoard of far-off Santiago’s wealth,
Great King Corcyrus welcomed them both joyously.
Yay, for the very same month arrived an embassy from the Aikeans,
Heralds of the host to come.
Leading them the wise Old Salty,
rough in speech though unmatched in wisdom.
Next, the victim of Aubreous’ theft, proud Leonike
who was now given to mercurial fits of deep sadness and vengeful anger.
Yet now his choler was balanced and his desire clear.
Last was the wily Moriseus, as skilled with persuasion as strategy.
Boldly did the three Aikean kings stride up to the great white gates of Troy,
with only their arms and armor, without a single warrior escort.
“We have come to entreat with mighty Corcyrus of Troy,
Grant us entry and spare your city impending war!”
At the gates, did Prince Hamiltor, eldest Prince of Troy, greet his city’s visitors.
“I bid you, noble kings, enter and allow me to take you to my esteemed father,”
did the noble prince offer.
And as the three kings followed their gracious host, they saw the works of Troy.
A city of white and gold, where lived sturdy and proud citizens,
guarded by towering walls and stalwart warriors.
Boldly did the three Aikean kings enter the court of Corcyrus,
where courtesans and musicians entertained the royal family.
Noticeably absent was Phaedra, who had left the chamber, knowing who was coming.
Yet there faced Aubreous and Leonike across from each other,
Betrayer and Betrayed.
The strong hand went straight for sword but the King of Santiago was stayed
by the firm arm of Moriseus, who bade Leonike to curb his anger.
“Stay your hand, friend. You may yet win back your wife without sword-work.”
The self-same wife watched from a balcony above,
as husband and lover arrayed against each other for the first time.
Wise Old Salty spoke first before the assembled court of Corcyrus,
“Great King, a crime has been committed against one of our own.
A man welcomed as guest and brother entered the home of Leonike,
only to steal away in the night with his host’s wife and treasure.
A woman may be given to flighty fancies,
but naught have I heard of coinage that asks for a new owner.
We name that thief to be your son, Aubreous of Troy,
who did enter the palace of Santiago and fled it,
bringing with him the wife and wealth of its king.”
A murmur ran through the courtiers of Troy,
many of whom had not known the story of Phaedra.
Then the lord of Troy spoke to his guests, his voice powerful despite his age.
“Noble kings of Aikea, it is true that my son did visit King Leonike,
and that he did leave while the King was afield with his army.
But I do not see the woman you seek in my court,
nor the lost treasures you mention.
How am I, or my son, responsible for your brother-king’s misplacement of wife and wealth?”
Before either Moriseus or Old Salty could reply,
the righteous fury of Leonike broke though,
his voice and grief thundered through the halls.
“I speak to you, Aubreous, false-friend and trust-breaker!
I, who, gave you wine and gifts of friendship!
Was that not enough?
Was your intention to strip me of my wife, my coin?
Or did you even intend to steal my throne and life?
Answer me, betrayer of men!
If you did not take Phaedra and my treasure, what became of them!”
The young, hot-headed Aubreous rose from his seat,
and before wisdom could speak, passion worked his tongue.
“I didn’t intend to take your wife,
but when she is left unattended, night after night,
by a husband too busy to care for her,
why should I not take her away to a better life?
And your wealth?
You had it in excess and none of it to please your wife!
Why should she not take what was owed her?”
The young fool had undone the lie which his father had wrought,
his outburst heard by all.
And to the surprise of all, Leonike laughed.
This was the first sound of joy to come from his lips since he had lost his wife.
And he laughed loudly and uncontrollably that many,
even the watching Phaedra, feared that he had lost his mind.
And when he stopped, Leonike spoke again, more calmly.
“You have lied to us once, O Corcyrus, and it has been exposed.
So I tell you anew, return what is rightfully mine or I shall take it myself,
be it now or in the years to come!
I have no quarrel with you but if you insist on aiding your fool son,
I shall not rest until this whole city burns.”
Again, the courtiers whispered, louder this time.
Then Moriseus spoke,
“My friend is clearly distraught by what has happened to him.
When he returned to an empty palace, with no wife,
It took his brother a month to restore peace to the rage.
That same rage you have witnessed.
Your son claims that Phaedra was unloved,
yet how could a man who feels naught for his wife,
be ready to commit all he has to your destruction?
The argument of Aubreous rings hollow to my mind,
for Leonike has acted as any loving husband would to such a betrayal.”
“We do not deny this, O King of Doshington, for the great King Leonike
Doth rage like a temperamental youth,” answered Zyvos, second Prince of Troy,
“Yet, when she has come to us for protection, how can we deny fair beauty sanctuary?”
“And if we were to turn her over, what guarantee have we that fair Phaedra,
would remain unharmed by the madness which grips the King of Santiago?”
So were the questions of the Troyan court.
And such was the answer of the wise Old Salty.
“The ‘onor of Aikea and ‘er sons is yo’ guarantee. Tha’ we represent a mahty host,
pledged to return fair Phaedra to her true ‘usband is proof of such ‘onor.”
None of the Troyans could find reply to such bold honesty
Until dread King Corcyrus spoke, blinded by his love for the coupling of Aubreous and Phaedra,
“Bold truth which we cannot refute without offense, yet our answer remains unchanged!
Phaedra stays and the treasure stays! Now I bid you all good day, mighty kings of Aikea.
If you wish to embattle my armies,
The walls of Troy have withstood all assault since the great Davis himself!”
And with that famous boast, the kings of Aikea ended their diplomatic mission,
Bound to return to the city, clad in burnished steel, with gleaming iron in hand.
For Leonike would see every Troyan killed if that meant the return of Phaedra.
The failure of the Aikea embassy was celebrated in both camps, each eager for the cry of war.
Mighty Troy’s walls stood thrice as high as an ID-SOL,
Each valiant warrior was a master of its defense,
Mighty princes of Troy and allied kings, her battle captains.
Each army with their champions, arrayed behind the great walls,
Reviewed by Corcyrus and Phaedra, and their train.
Greatest of them was the host of Troy,
Each battalion led by a battle captain, one hundred thousand men did each command.
Chiefest amongs them was Prince Hamiltor, with his men clad in gleaming raiment.
First son of Corcyrus and greatest of Troyan champions,
It was said that only Bernados, Prince of the Murderdons, rivaled dread Hamiltor in battle skill.
All were pleased by such a martial sight, led by such a champion.
Behind him, his brother Zyvos, formed the second battalion.
Polished plate were they clad, a match for any worthy Aikean host.
So too was the King and his train pleased.
Then the host of Fianor, third son of Troy, master of the war spear,
Whose fighting skill was said to be second only to Hamiltor.
Corcyrus tutted over his third son’s plate, adjusting it in front of his men.
Then came the turn of Aubreous, cause of the conflict,
His battalion stood resolute, loyal to their prince
And were so acknowledged by the King and his train.
Next the Warpriest, Bastiles, and his men stood ready their homeland from the Aikean horde.
Serving as both the chief Priest of the city and one of its battle captains,
Bastiles the dour, with ashen bow, longed to send arrows of misery into his foe.
Last amongst the Troyan host was Sankos, Spymaster of Troy,
And his battalion, clad in midnight black, with fell deeds in mind.
Masked warriors who fought by instilling fear at every moment of the fight.
But that was not the assembled host, for allies came to aid the Troyans.
Carteas, King of Kennewesia, brought his host of eighty thousand broad shouldered warriors.
Long friend of Corcyrus and Troy, Kennewesia would resist the approaching black ships.
And who could forget Enrike, Prince of Delsauros, and his force of sixty thousands!
Fierce desertmen, able to bear the harshest conditions and eager for war.
Yet strangest of the host was the band of Amazons, led by their Queen.
Laurania was no bosom friend of Troy, yet she longed to revenge her nation against Aikea.
Years before, their previous Queen, Laurania’s sister, had been bested in single combat
The victor, mighty Dominios, warmaster of the lance,
His terms, the hand of Valencia Queen in marriage.
Such was an insult to the Amazons, who believed no man to be their equal,
Yet the victory was clearly Dominios, so it was decided.
Laurania would be the new Queen and Valencia banished, never to return,
Shame of the Amazons, a disgrace to the proud warrior women.
With the Aikean host led by Dominious, Laurania sought vengeance,
For the insult made and the shame they have borne.
To kill Dominios would prove that, indeed, no man was greater than the Queen of the Amazons.
The names of the Aikean champions were unknown to her,
For she would have known the greatest of the host was not Dominios.
Accompanying their Queen was a small cohort of shieldmaidens, as was tradition.
Antonia, skilled with bow and lance, emerald eyed and a flowing mane of deep brown.
Stentoria, brutal with sword and axe, wild-eyed with raven hair and terror of men.
Lisana, sharp with tongue and spear, the golden-haired muse of death.
Jessintha, swift with bow and sword, loyal warrior-maiden of the queen.
Violana, priestess of the Amazons, inspired them with tales of valor and led their number.
Gentle Bartesia tended their wounds and sores with hands that becalmed the greatest calamity.
Yet none of them compared to their queen, silver-haired Laurania.
‘Twas whispered that she was kin to Phaedra, though they were not.
With golden crown, the dread Queen waited to slaughter Aikeans with her fell sword,
And avenge the grievances caused to her family by House Valken.
Though fewer than the Aikean host, the Troyans were aided by their resolute walls,
And each Amazon was said to count for a thousand warriors in battle,
For such was their skill that the least of their number,
Witty Lisana bested a hundred Troyan men in ceremonial games.
None but the champions of Troy, mighty Corcyrus’ sons, could overmatch her in feat of arms.
The womanhood of Troy were astounded to see their husbands and lovers defeated.
Espaceia, Princess of Troy, bade her mother, Cassiope, Queen of Troy
“Send the Troyan daughters to the Amazons at birth, to return upon womanhood,
So that they may impart upon their menfolk the same martial prowess!”
Such was the force that greeted the black ships on that fell day,
When the Aikean host beached upon Troy’s white shores to spill crimson blood.
