Timewaster's Guide Archive

Hi all. New here. I’ve been wanting to do a dialogue exercise, and since I see others are still turning in some, I thought I’d go ahead and post two of my own. These are both from the same story, but only one character is common between them.

 

So, here goes:

Dialogue Exercise One:

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"That's not how it works."

 

"W-who?"

 

"Stop that. You're not an owl."

 

"What?"

 

"Better. I said you're doing it wrong. You did it so much better back there in the depths when that priest was chasing you.

 

"Who are you? How do you know about that? Can you get me out of here?"

 

"So many questions. Who I am is complicated. But you can call me Victoria, if you like. As for how I know about what happened to you, it's simple. I watched you. "

 

"What?"

 

"I. Watched. You. Really, I know you can hear me and if you don't become a better conversationalist quickly, I'm going to become cross with you."

 

"I... I'm sorry. I'm kind of distracted locked up in this cell, sentenced to be burnt at the stake..."

 

"Yes. Nasty business that. Not a pleasant way to go."

 

"Thank you for the observation. I hadn't considered that..."

 

"Well you should. Really, that priest was young and not particularly strong or he would have blasted you to ashes you where you stood. The stake fires are a lot hotter."

 

"I am trying not to think about that. These burns are bad enough."

 

"If you're lucky you'll suffocate to death on the smoke before the flames kill you."

 

"Lovely."

 

"Not especially.  I'm not fond of fire myself."

 

"It's really very disconcerting to talk to you like this. Could you come out where I can see you to talk?"

 

"I could, certainly.  If you'll stand in the torchlight in front of the door for a moment."

 

"What, why?"

 

"There you go with the questions again. If you must know, I need the shadow of a living being to step from. I can't just pop out of any old shadow. It's bad enough talking and watching through them."

 

"Shadows? You're a... a... voidwright?"

 

"You could say that."

 

"I don't think I should talk to you... The Church..."

 

"The Church might lock you in a cell and burn you at the stake in the morning? Hmm. Probably so. Oh well, we can't risk that, now can we?"

 

"Fine! fine! I see your point. Just come on out."

 

 

"There. Better?"

 

 

"Much. Forgive me for staring, I..."

 

"No need to worry. I admit I made a bit of an entrance."

 

"Indeed you did."

 

"I'm glad you liked it... Stinks in here. Musty. I suppose that's to be expected."

 

"Um, you're not here to tempt me for my soul, are you?"

 

"Why bother?"

 

"Then why are you here?"

 

"Well, because you asked me to come out to talk. Surely you remember?"

 

"I meant, why down here in these cells, how did you watch me, and what was all that with the shadows back in that chamber, and the metal skeleton and that spear... and the priest throwing fire... It's like the old stories come to life. Even now I'm beginning to doubt my own memories. It's just too inconceivable. People can't throw fire from their hands, or step into shadows...or..."

 

"Hmm. I see. So all the legends you grew up hearing were just childrens' fancies and none of this can be real."

 

"Well... yes."

 

"It's real.  Pyromancer priests are real.  Voidwrights are real. Thatchgrumbles..."

 

"Thatchgrumbles? Seriously?"

 

"Well, no. Not Thatchgrumbles. Some things really are just children's stories. But the important thing for you is that you are now a Voidwright. Master of shadow and ice, stealer of sins and hand of the Void. Or you will be if you can avoid being burnt to death in about, oh, four hours or so.

 

"What about that priest?"

 

"Obviously he can summon and cast flames, also craft illusions with light, read the flames. Pyromancers can do a lot of other things, too. Some they've probably forgotten. Most of them just plain unpleasant to anyone on the wrong end of them."

 

"Wow. With that sort of power I could just blast my way out. Or slip out hiding behind illusions. I wonder why the priest didn't get himself out of that room that way?"

 

"Maybe because he's a priest, and is honest, devout, and remorseful for breaking his Church's greatest taboo?"

 

"Are you saying I'm not an honest man?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Oh. Well. That's all right then."

 

"I suggest you keep your mind on your current situation. Now is not the time to muck about. Hurry up and figure out how to get out of here. There are plenty of shadows here, if you have the wit to make use of them. Remember, the trick is simple. You're not trying to get in, you're trying to get out."

 
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Dialogue Exercise Two:

 

"Hey! Hey you over there! Why aren't you eating your porridge? Is it not good enough for you?"

 

"Who is there?"

 

"My name is Vincenzo."

 

"You are the defiler! I have nothing to say to such as you."

 

"Hey! Listen! If you don't want that porridge, could you maybe find a way to scoot it over here?"

 

"Hey, you're that Priest, aren't you?"

 

"Hey! Hey in there, you burned me pretty badly. Don't you feel bad about that?"

 

"Hey, why did they lock you up? You caught me after all. I thought you were one of theirs?"

 

"Be silent, Voidwright! I've heard enough of you already, singing, shouting down the halls, talking to yourself. I don't know why they won't end this. We should both be ashes by now. Especially you."

 

"Me? That's not a very priestly thing to say. Why not ask the gaoler?"

 

"He's a monk who has taken a vow of silence."

 

"That would explain it. Listen, if you're not going to scoot that porridge bowl over this way, at least explain why you aren't eating it yourself."

 

"Not that I expect a man like you to understand, but I don't deserve food or water. I stay awake by the door, praying for forgiveness, until sleep takes me. I have become a wretched thing, deserving of the stake and the flame. My only hope is that the purifying flames of the execution pyre will cleanse my sins and that Sol Invictus and his Angel will receive my soul into heaven, though I am an unworthy wretch."

 

"So I'm eating better than you and sleeping more comfortably. I actually feel better about that. At least someone has it worse than me. Sure we're both going to be burnt alive, but at least I can do it on a full stomach. You'll be so hungry you might not notice the fire."

 

"The pains of hunger and thirst are part of my penance. You should do penance, too, for the sake of your soul. Heaven is beyond your reach, surely, but perhaps you can redeem yourself enough in your last hours here that Sol Invictus, in his mercy, will simply obliterate you rather than send you to the icy wastes of Hell. Give up your evil Void-blighted magics and beg for forgiveness."

 

"No thanks. I think I'll enjoy my crust of moldy bread."

 

"So be it then. It is your choice."

 

"Seems so. So, what is your name?"

 

"Wilhelm. I am Patre Wilhelm, unless they have revoked my Ordination. It would be within their rights abjure me so."

 

"So all that fire you threw at me..."

 

"Do not speak of the Holy Arts with your foul tongue, Voidwright!"

 

"You're free with those terms, but would you mind explaining them?"

 

"You take me for a fool. I saw you step into your own shadow and clamber out of mine. "

 

"I have no idea how that happened."

 

"You lie."

 

"If I had the slightest idea how all that worked, do you really think I'd have been caught?"

 

"You must have been caught on purpose to...."

 

"Really? Think that through for a bit and you'll see how ridiculous that idea is."

 

"Oh, all right then. So you did not plan it. How did you get so far into the Cathedral without raising an alarm, if you didn't use evil void-wrought arts?"

 

"If you must know, I was chased into the catacombs by Gravesmen and a city guard intent on bashing in my head.After that, I did it the old fashioned way. By sneaking and hiding. Sometimes even in shadows. Most of the time, actually, but not using any sort of 'dark arts.' Heh. Dark Arts. That's kind of funny, now that I think about it."

 

"There is nothing funny about Dark Arts! Perhaps you have stumbled upon those abilities somehow, unwittingly. I still urge you to renounce them before you die."

 

"I'll think about it."

 

"Good. See that you do.  The workings of the Void and its Void Angel are anathema to all life."

 

"Oh, and fire isn't?"

 

"Fire is the life bringer! Fire gives warmth and light, and holds back the Dark.  Fire is the gift of the Sun."

 

"Fire can also burn and kill. Your fire didn't exactly do much to bring me life. Quite the opposite in fact."

 

"Fire also purifies the impure, and destroys the evil of the Void."

 

"And anything else that spends too long in contact with it. I don't think fire cares much one way or the other what it burns, so long as it burns something. Whether it's a 'creature of evil' or a good man, or a house, or a brothel, or a church."

 

"You speak blasphemy!"

 

"Is truth blasphemy? You can't deny that fire is dangerous. Cities have burned, thousands killed. Are you prepared to say that every single person who dies by fire had it coming in some way?"

 

"Of course not. It's a force in the world. The capacity to use it is the gift of Sol Invictus."

 

"So there goes your argument about its inherent goodness. It's a force. It just is. So it stands to reason that these Shadow arts might also just be a force, and not inherently evil."

 

"I am not going to sit here and let you twist my faith with clever words.  The fact is that you were in a sacred place, The most sacred place. It is a blasphemy and a sacrilege for anyone save the Pontifex himself to go there. For that crime, there is only one just punishment, and that is to be burnt at the stake. That doom is on both of us.  The fact that you compound that crime and sin with those of using forbidden evil arts merely makes your execution even more imperative.  It is unfortunate that you can be burnt at the stake only once."

 

"Well that's cheerful. Thank you for that. Aren't you priests always saying 'justice for crimes, forgiveness for sins'?"

 

"There is a distinction yes. That is why I was urging you to renounce the void and its arts, turn from your sinful ways, and beg Sol Invictus for mercy for your soul.  Your crimes will be met with justice on the stake. Your sins may be mitigated or forgiven."

 

"I'll be dead either way."

 

"Yes."

 

"So why bother?"

 

"To avoid eternity in the icy wastes of Hell, where the Sun is a mere point of light in the distance, where He does not cast his warmth and love. Where every drop of your blood freezes to sharp ice crystals, which shred your flesh from within while driving winds scour your skin with ice from without, and your flesh freezes to the ground tearing away with every step, and every touch of the hand. Where your eyes freeze solid and burst from the cold, and where there is no rest, only torturous freezing cold and the all-consuming Void. Where the wails of the shadows of the damned echo for all eternity."

 "Sounds lovely. I think I'll pass though."

 

"Good. So you will renounce the Void, forswear the evil powers the touch of the Void has instilled in you, and beg Sol Invictus for mercy for your soul?"

 

"No. I think I'll pass on being burnt at the stake. Save Sol Invictus the trouble of sending me to Hell and save me the trouble of a horrible fiery death."

 

"That is not a choice available to you. Any moment now, the Palatine Guard will drag you out to the pyre. Heed my warnings and repent!"

 

"Ehh... I'm not much one for repentance. That would involve my being sorry or somehow remorseful."

 

"Then you will burn. May Sol Invictus look with pity on your spirit. I doubt he will, but I can hope. For your sake."