Echoes – Session 4
Cast
Arc
Balda
Boucama
Synopsis
Arc, Balda, and Boucama find themselves lost on a raft in the middle of a large lake when they spot what looks like buildings. Who would build a a town in the middle of a lake? As they paddle into this town, a man greets them and allows them to depart the raft at his home. He is friendly and tells the rogues that his name is Charlie.
Boucama scans the inside of Charlie’s home and realizes the man lives alone and unattached. That is because Charlie is trying to avoid his brother who lives on the other side of town. The brothers have had disagreements in the past that lead to deaths. Arc notices the bright colors of Charlie’s decorations and the lively scent of spices. They learn that the townspeople trade spices to the Harvesters in return for food. Balda hits it off Charlie as they swap stories. He learns that the few people that live in town are divided between supporting Charlie or his brother, Mickey.
Balda continues to boast to Charlie about his past exploits. Charlie tells Balda that him and Mickey’s began to disagree when the family pet chose to be with Charlie over Mickey. This bitterness has run for decades. The boasting of Balda gets Charlie fired up and he rings a bell to call in his supporters. Boucama tells Charlie not to burn with anger but to take note of the peace of water. Boucama reaches down and cups water to drink. The water is rejuvenating and makes Boucama look 20 years younger. This calms Charlie, although the followers still seemed hype for a fight. But they all become quiet as the sound of rhythmic grunting echoes throughout the buildings in town.
Charlie’s supporters run and hide leaving Charlie and the three rogues standing on the dock. A boat rows into view, loaded down with brightly clothed natives of this lake. They exit the boat, draw their swords and walk down the pier towards the rogues. Charlie tells the rogues that these are the Harvesters here for the spices. The Harvesters aggressively move the rogues so that their leader has a path to Charlie. Arc breaks free from the Harvester that had grabbed him by the throat and rolls towards the now restrained Boucama. The chief of the Harvesters walks over to Boucama, places a hand on his shoulder and begins to quietly sing. Water begins to flow from Boucama’s ears and eyes. Charlie is horrified as the water begins to tinge red with blood.
Boucama endures and pulls away from his restrainers, dislocating joints in the process. Exhausted, he falls to his knees in front of the chief, looks at Balda and whispers, “Help”. The chief growls in disapproval as the fluid stops draining from Boucama’s head. Balda has not been restrained as he seems feeble, leaning on his walking stick/spear. Suddenly Balda rolls and impales a Harvester before continuing to fight, killing and pushing the Harvesters into the water. Charlie yells for help and his supporters leap from their hiding places to attack. The Harvesters retreat to their boat and row away.
In shock, Charlie tells the rogues that no one has ever stood up to the Harvesters but it sure they will return in more numbers. A horn is heard in the distance. Arc uses his experience in village protection to help set up the village defenses. Despite his hate for water, Balda joins with an ambush party waiting below the water’s surface. The townsfolk are hesitant to follow orders from strangers which leads to them to hasty, non-quality work. The horn is heard again, followed by another horn which in turn is followed by another horn. Realizing the need for more help and people, Boucama climbs to the top of Charlie’s house, takes in a huge breath and bellows, “MICKEYYYYYYY!” His voice ripples the water and echoes throughout the town.
Charlie’s supporters are surprised at this turn of events and they begin to hype each other up due the coming of Mickey and his people. Mickey arrives and while walking down the dock, he looks towards one of his followers and his eyes are white like a Harvester but when he turns back towards Charlie and the rogues, his eyes are normal again. As Mickey approaches, Charlie starts barking insults at him. Mickey walks up to Charlie and kisses him gently on the forehead. Arc notices that Mickey’s followers share some similarities with the Harvesters, like bright colors hidden beneath their drab clothes. It is known that Mickey’s side of town was once devastated by the Harvester’s magic. During the meeting above, Balda is still just below the water’s surface. He notices something large moving beneath them in the water. Charlie’s men are frozen with terror at the sight and they stop breathing. Balda is forced to start pulling them from the water to prevent them from drowning.
A large, crocodile-like creature emerges from water and eats one of the townsfolk. It begins to thrash, its tail smashes a building and it continues to feed on the people in the water. As a harvester boat rows into view, Balda climbs onto it and he sees that they are frozen in terror as well. Balda is happy that this beast would be a worthy trophy. He taunts the beast and the beast rends the boat in two, plunging Balda and the Harvesters in the water. As Arc and Boucama witness this scene, a battle has begun behind them between the townsfolk and Harvesters. Arc makes eye contact with a Harvester soldier and while he is fixated, a spear pierces through Arc’s body, killing him. Charlie is running from the Harvesters as they chase him and cut at him. Boucama rushes between Charlie and his pursuers. He puts up his hands to halt the pursuers. A Harvester slices off Boucama’s hands and Boucama helplessly watches as the Harvesters cut down Charlie. Balda continues to taunt the great beast. Using a piece of lumber, Balda distracts the beast before leaping back into the water and eviscerating the beast.
A flashback to the snowy north shows a young Arc huddled with his family as the lycanthropes howl in the darkness. Despite the objections of others, Arc goes outside to retrieve food. He walks directly into a lycanthrope. Suddenly the lycanthrope is beheaded, thanks to a hunter named Wells, and as beast changes back to its human form, Arc realizes it was a villager that had been missing for years.
In another flashback, we see Balda in a bar being told about this lake town, Mickey and Charlie, and most importantly about the great beast.
Back in the present, the Harvester have overrun the town. Balda found where Charlie hid the spices underneath the house. Balda exchanges the spices for being able to leave safely. He takes the head from the great beast and heads for home.
We see the bodies of the dead sink into the waters of the lake. As the dry season takes hold, the lake dries up but leaves behind the nutrients of the dead. From the mud a fruit grows that is then dried into spice. We also see Balda back in the bar where a massive beast head is on display.