THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
Based on the video game series, Hylics, created by Mason Lindroth
and the musical Absent Moon, created by Chuck Salamone

Note: This was done as a writing warmup and is an alternate interpretation of the penultimate song from Absent Moon. What if a different, but just as beloved character met with Pongorma's fate?

SCENE ONE - PONGORMA'S CAMP
PONGORMA'S camp sits atop Curtain One, Upper Level.
PONGORMA sits on a cot in front of his television.
DRACULA stands next to him.
DRACULA
Pongorma.
Greatest of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn.
Extant prior to Accretion.
Extant during the Age of Sages.
Vaulted, Mettle tested.
Joyous sword at his side.
PONGORMA gestures the TV on and addresses it.
PONGORMA
Hello Dedusmuln, I trust you are well. I apologize for missing our normal transmission time ... I was ... preoccupied. I know that you would rather I not do this but there is most definitely a warp pool on this island. Or a fissure leading to the Afterlife. There are more of those arthropodal Waynes here ... And they're rearranging. I've decided to make camp and make observations of my own.
DRACULA
Pongorma
Greatest of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn.
Recitations and interpretations
Cantillations abounded
PONGORMA
I ... haven't heard from you in a few days ... I hope you're alright my friend ... We seem to be operating on dissonant timescales. I ... I miss you. All of you.
DRACULA
Nocturnal rencounters
The sun's brief respite banishes.
Pongorma
Greatest of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn
Seeking solace in distant companionship
PONGORMA
Dedusmuln I am ... I am getting concerned. It has been many sennights and I have not received any transmissions. I have requested an airship from Blerol. I ... hope you and Smuldunde are well but ... I'm worried for you, my friend.
DRACULA
Replies non-existent
Peregrination begins
Pongorma
Greatest of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn.
Searching
Scouting
Chasing final transmission
PONGORMA
I ... I was able to triangulate your last position. I hope to find you when I land ... I hope that when I arrive ... you will be there to greet me and tell me that I was concer- that my fears were unfounded. I shall see you soon, my dear friend.
PONGORMA readies his pack to take into battle.
DRACULA
Alone.
Flagging.
Many ages.
Many centuries.
Time innumerable.
His World Wanes
Pongorma.
Last of the Dread Knights of Yiithorn.
PONGORMA looks down at his pack and checks its inventory. A Soul Sponge, a Juice box, a Cookie, and a Banana. It is not much but it will have to do. 
He shoulders his pack, resolute.
He looks at the TV once more and gestures it off.
PONGORMA crosses to the aisle, leaving for:
SCENE TWO - A JUNGLE
The night has fallen on the dense jungle of WAYNE plants.
Blue light slowly comes up center stage revealing a pack of CAT-LIKE WREATURES, lounging after having finished their latest kill.
SONG - AS THE WORLD BEGINS TO WANE
PONGORMA crosses down the aisle to the stage.
PONGORMA does CHARGE and the WREATURE is enraged.

 

PONGORMA does SOUL CRISPER at the WREATURE. 
The WREATURE snaps as a counterattack and PONGORMA staggers.
PONGORMA
MINCED TO MEAT UPON DEFEAT…
PONGORMA does SOUL CRISPER again.
PONGORMA
NOW YOU ARE THE ENEMY…
The first WREATURE tilts it's head and practices the SOUL CRISPER gesture.
PONGORMA realizes with horror that these ones know this gesture.
A second WREATURE is awakened by the battle and rises to join the fray
PONGORMA does BRACE. 
The first WREATURE snaps.
PONGORMA snaps and the first WREATURE perishes. 
The second WREATURE does SOUL CRISPER 
PONGORMA staggers, then counters with LINK MOLLUSC.
The second WREATURE is enraged and snaps. 
PONGORMA snaps and fells the second WREATURE.
The lights brighten.
The day begins.
PONGORMA pulls out a juice box and uses it as he crosses to the aisle to Curtain Three, upper level.
An apparition of WAYNE enters, Curtain One, Floor Level. He stares at PONGORMA.
PONGORMA senses him and turns to look at him, delaying his journey.
He crosses the stage to address WAYNE.
PONGORMA
WE WALKED IN SINGLE FILE.
I RECALL EVERY MILE.
THERE WAS NO LEADER QUITE LIKE YOU.
NOW WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
WAYNE crosses to the aisle leading to Curtain Three, upper level, blocking his path. He turns and watches PONGORMA, blankly.
PONGORMA
YOU WALKED AWAY, WE CHOSE TO STAY.
AS TIME PASSED BY IT HAD ITS WAY.
OUR TEAM WAS LOST, OUR PURPOSE FRAYED.
A SHABBY END, BUT I HABITUATE.
PONGORMA plots where he will be traversing next.
PONGORMA
IN THE QUIET HOURS ON THIS BATTLEFIELD OF OURS
I THINK OF YOU ALL FONDLY.
Some MONITOR LIZARD-LIKE WREATURES enter. They stalk PONGORMA as he traverses the dense jungle.
PONGORMA
(to WAYNE)
WHILE WHAT REMAINS OF YOU WILL SHIFT AND REARRANGE.
AN ENDLESS CYCLE OF CONSTANT CHANGE.
With resolve, PONGORMA prepares for battle. 
The night has fallen.
A WREATURE attacks him, using DISSOLUTION.
PONGORMA 
WHEN YOU BLOCK OUT THE SUN
PONGORMA snaps at the WREATURE, making it stagger.
PONGORMA
 
I’LL TURN ON THE LIGHTS!
The WREATURE counters with a SNAP and PONGORMA is hit as another WREATURE uses DISSOLUTION.
PONGORMA
MANY VERSUS ONE
PONGORMA uses LINK MOLLUSC  and both WREATURES stagger. One WREATURE is felled.
PONGORMA
IN CONTINUOUS STRIFE!
PONGORMA faces off with a single WREATURE as they circle each other.
PONGORMA
THIS WAR HAS CHANGED US TWO, 
WE ARE NOT THE SAME!
IT’S JUST ME AND YOU, 
AS THE WORLD BEGINS TO WANE!
PONGORMA Snaps and fells the WREATURE. 
His chest heaves as he looks over his battlefield, pulling out the cookie to stop the dissolution.
The day begins. PONGORMA must press on.
He needs to find his friend.
PONGORMA
FOR MANY YEARS
ALL I’VE KNOWN IS WAR.
WHAT DO WE GET IF WE WIN?
WHY EVEN BOTHER KEEPING SCORE?
PONGORMA'S resentment rises.
PONGORMA
THE WANDERER
LEFT IN SEARCH OF HER PAST!
THE EXPLORER FOUND THE ANSWERS
TO THE QUESTIONS THAT HE ASKED
PONGORMA'S anger turns in at himself as more PREDATORY WREATURES enter from every direction.
He could have joined DEDUSMULN.
He could have helped them.
But he was stubborn.
And now he is here, hoping his friend is still alive.
PONGORMA
AND THE OLD MAN STAYED.
HE STAYED.
AN AGED KNIGHT
SET IN HIS WAYS.
PONGORMA faces the WREATURES again.
The night has fallen.
PONGORMA 
WHEN YOU BLOCK OUT THE SUN
A WREATURE attacks with SHARP FINGERS, staggering PONGORMA.
PONGORMA clutches his arm in pain and pulls away pink flesh.
PONGORMA
I’LL TURN ON THE LIGHTS!
PONGORMA counters with LINK MOLLUSK again, destroying this WREATURE.
PONGORMA
MANY VERSUS ONE
A WREATURE uses DISSOLUTION and PONGORMA counters with a snap
PONGORMA
IN CONTINUOUS STRIFE!
THE WREATURE collapses.
PONGORMA takes out the banana to restore a small amount of his flesh.
PONGORMA
THIS WAR HAS CHANGED US TWO, 
WE ARE NOT THE SAME!
IT’S JUST ME AND YOU, 
PONGORMA realizes that there are too many.
PONGORMA
AS THE WORLD BEGINS TO WANE!
PONGORMA begins to prepare his ultimate Gesture.
PONGORMA
CHARGE IT UP…
PONGORMA does CHARGE UP. A WREATURE snaps and he staggers slightly.
PONGORMA
GRAB THE BOLT…
PONGORMA reaches his hand to the sky.
PONGORMA
LET IT FLY!
PONGORMA releases his lightning knocking the WREATURES back.
He BRACES.
One WREATURE quickly recovers and attacks with DISSOLUTION.
PONGORMA staggers and then goes to cast another gesture.
Nothing.
He realizes that he is out of will, out of juice, with no one to assist him.
He is truly on his own.
But DEDUSMULN needs him.
WAYNE watches the battle, face still neutral.
The swarm of WREATURES that were knocked back fully recover and circle PONGORMA.
PONGORMA desperately snaps at the SWARM WREATURES as they swarm him, obscuring him from view as the music climaxes.
VOICES
AHH ...
The day begins and the WREATURES disperse, fleeing from the light.
PONGORMA is battered.
But victorious.
A light on Curtain Three Upper Level.
DEDUSMULN'S camp.
The tent is destroyed.
DEDUSMULN's head is visible coming out from under the fabric of the tent.
The Roaming TV is broken, playing an endless loop of static.
SMULDUNDE is nowhere to be found.
PONGORMA sees the tent and pushes past WAYNE and runs up the aisle.
He foolishly hopes that he is not too late.
He recoils in horror as soon as he steps into the camp.
PONGORMA
WHEN WILL THE CYCLE END?
PONGORMA pulls back the fabric of the tent and sees what remains of DEDUSMULN before the audience does.
He gags and turns away briefly.
PONGORMA
WHEN WILL THE CYCLE END?
PONGORMA turns back to DEDUSMULN'S remains.
A soul sponge would not do anything for them.
They are long gone.
PONGORMA looks down at the memory of WAYNE and sings to him, anguished.
PONGORMA
WHEN WILL THE CYCLE END?
The light goes down on WAYNE
PONGORMA is alone.
He pulls DEDUSMULN'S body close.
PONGORMA
WHEN WILL THE CYCLE END ...
PONGORMA weeps.
The lights fade as glittering crescents appear out of the darkness.
END