Act III: Scene 105
Location: The ruins of Seattle, near the edge of the ruins.
* The outer edge of the ruins are overgrown with trees, bushes, grass, and vines. Thundarr and Ookla creep through the undergrowth. They come upon an overturned ancient automobile and crouch down behind it. The peek over the top of the wreckage and see an ancient, run down gas station. The current occupants of the city had converted the gas station into a guard post. They see a few of the guards standing watch by the derelict gas pumps. They are mutants, rat-like humanoids wearing ragged clothing. They're armed with spiked clubs and simple, primitive spears.*
Thundarr: (Whispering to Ookla) Great. Groundlings. They don't care much for humans. Or moks for that matter.
Ookla: [Well, cats and rats have traditionally never gotten along.]
Thundarr: (Still whispering) That's true. Well, so much for any hope of asking them to let us look for the weapon.
Ookla: [What do you want to do?]
Thundarr: Let's get the horses and head back to camp. We can come back with Ariel and the guides. They know more about cities than either of us do. Then we'll all search for the weapon together.
Ookla: [Sounds good to me.]
Thundarr and Ookla sneak away into the darkness.
Act III: Scene 106
Location: The campsite.
* Thundarr and Ookla ride their mounts into the campsite. They immediately see the carnage which had taken place. They dismount and look about the campsite, searching for clues. Thundarr kneels next to Guide #3. The guard is still alive, and grabs Thundarr's wrist.*
Thundarr: Ookla! Come quick! This one's still alive!
Guide #3: (Whispering) Ariel . . . Taken.
Thundarr: Taken by who?
Guide #3: Barbarian . . . Black hair . . . battle . . . ax.
Thundarr: And he bested all four of you?
Guide #3: Too . . . strong . . . too . . . fast.
Thundarr: Where is he? Where did he take her?
Guide #3: North . . . Back to . . . Sabian.
Thundarr: When? How long ago?
* The guide makes a gurgling sound, then exhales and goes limp. His eyes stare out into nothingness. Thundarr closes the guide's eyes for him, then stands up.*
Ookla: [What are we going to do now?]
Thundarr: First, we're going to bury these men. They were warriors, and they died in battle. We won't dishonor them by leaving them here to be feasted upon by scavengers. Then we will go back to the City of Seahawks and find this "Mightiest Of Weapons". Without Ariel's magic, we will need it to defeat her stepfather. Once we have it, we go back to the Kingdom Of Couver and rescue her.
Ookla: [In that case, we had better get started.]
Act III: Scene 107
* Thundarr and Ookla spend the rest of the night building cairns for the three fallen warriors, and mark the graves with the men's weapons. At dawn, the two of them mount their horses and ride towards the ruins of Seattle. *
Act III: Scene 108
Location: Ruins of Seattle.
* Thundarr and Ookla creep through the city streets, careful to stay out of site of the Goundling inhabitants. While hiding behind the rubble of a fallen building, Ookla spots a manhole cover in the middle of a wide cement street. *
Ookla: (Pointing at the manhole cover) [Look there! That looks like some sort of doorway to below the city.]
Thundarr: That street is fairly exposed. We'll have a difficult time reaching it unseen.
Ookla: [We will have an even harder time remaining unseen if we remain up here much longer.]
Thundarr: True. Groundlings may not be very fierce fighters individually. But get a large enough group of them together, and even a mok might find he's outmatched.
Ookla: [So what do you want to do?]
Thundarr: There's only one thing we can do. We're going to have to risk it. For Ariel's sake.
Ookla: [For Ariel.]
Act III: Scene 109
* Thundarr and Ookla wait for the coast to clear. Once they're relatively sure there are no groundlings within sight of the manhole, the two of them make a break for it. Once they reach the manhole, they realize that two millennium of corrosion had rusted the lid shut.*
Thundarr: Demon Dogs! It's rusted shut! And there are no handholds. What now?
Ookla: [I haven't come this far to be stopped now! Stand aside, my friend!]
Act III: Scene 110
* Ookla scrapes his claws along the seam, where the manhole cover had rusted together with the edge of the manhole itself. He then traces the holes which sanitation workers used to use to set the pry tools for lifting out the manhole covers during the days of Old Earth. To even Thundarr's surprise, Ookla manages to dig his claws into the ancient metal, crumple it in his hands like it were made of paper, then pull the manhole cover free from it had been set for all those centuries with relative ease.*
Thundarr: Lords Of Light! I never realized just how strong you are, my friend!
Ookla: [That's nothing! You ought to see how far I can throw a boulder!]
Groundling: Intruders! Sound the alarm! Sound the alarm!
Act III: Scene 111
* Thundarr and Ookla look up the street towards the shouting. They see a small group of groundlings on patrol just up the block. Ookla throws the manhole cover at them like it were a Frisbee. The large heavy metal disc strikes the first groundling in the chest, and throws him into his companions. The whole lot of them collapse in a heap.*
Thundarr: Nicely done!
Ookla: (Readying his composite bow) [Get down below! I can hold them off!]
Thundarr: Okay! But catch up quickly!
Act III: Scene 112
* Thundarr climbs down into the manhole. Ookla stands over the opening with his bow and arrows ready. More groundlings come running towards them. Ookla takes aim with his bow and shoots. The arrow flies down the street and catches a groundling in his open mouth. The arrow passes completely through the back of the groundling's head, and catches another groundling several feet behind him in the throat. Ookla takes aim at another groundling and fires. The arrow flies through the air and plunges deep into the groundling's eye, bursts out the back of its skull, and buries itself in the forehead of the groundling several feet behind him. Ookla quickly takes aim and fires a third arrow. This one hits a groundling square in the chest, burying itself up to its fletchings in his ribcage, and sending him flying backwards into the groundling behind him, skewering them together. The remaining groundlings scatter, seeking cover from the mok's deadly arrows.*
Thundarr: Ookla! Let's go!
Act III: Scene 113
* A groundling up the street peeks around the corner of the building he took refuge behind. As soon as his head is in view, an arrow drives through the ancient bricks and impales his skull. Ookla drops his bow into the manhole, then climbs in after it.*
Thundarr: (Handing Ookla back his bow) Good shooting, Old Friend. So where to now?
Ookla: [Your guess is as good as mine.]
Thundarr: Right. In that case, let's go this way (pointing to the left).
Ookla: (Shrugs) [As good of a direction as any.]
*The two of them run off into the gloom.*
*Fade to black.*
Act III: Scene 114
Location: The Wild Country between the ruins of Seattle and the Kingdom Of Couver.
* Dusk has fallen. Zogarr and Princess Ariel have stopped for the evening. They sit across from each other, on opposite sides of the campfire. Zogarr keeps a watchful eye on his captive as he tends the fire and their evening meal. A game bird is roasting on a spit over an open fire, along with a couple of potatoes. Princess Ariel sits with her hands in her lap, wrists bound together, glaring at her captor. Zogarr rips a leg off of the bird and puts it on a tin plate, places the roasted potato next to it, then places a fresh apple on the plate next to them. He places the tin plate of food at Ariel's feet. He then digs in himself. He looks over at Ariel and sees she isn't eating.*
Zogarr: Eat.
Ariel: Why?
Zogarr: You need to keep your strength up for the ride home.
Ariel: I mean, why are you doing this?
Zogarr: Your daddy wants you back. And he's paying me a fortune in gold to deliver you to him.
Ariel: Do you really expect him to keep his word?
Zogarr: Is there any reason I should think otherwise?
Ariel: He swore an oath to protect my family from harm. He then murdered my father, married my mother, and then promised me to a demon lord. Not exactly a track record of honesty.
Zogarr: Nice try, Princess. But even the most untrustworthy of wizards would never be so foolish as to break ties with a valuable ally. Besides, (he hefts his ax) anyone who cheats me doesn't live long enough to cheat anyone else.
Ariel: Do you really think you can best a wizard's magic with your ax?
Zogarr: It worked well enough on you.
Ariel: I think you will find Sabian far more formidable.
Zogarr: As entertaining as this is, it is a waste of time. I shall not forgo my reward by setting you free, and you cannot convince me that Sabian intends to double cross me. Not when there is far more to be gained by us both keeping our word. So eat. It is a long ride back to your father's . . .
Ariel: Stepfather!
Zogarr: Whatever. It is a long ride back to the palace, and you will need your strength. So eat.
* Princess Ariel picks up her tin plate and places it on her lap. She nibbles at her food, all the while glaring at her captor. Zogarr just goes about eating his meal, hardly caring.*
Fade to black.
Act III: Scene 115
Location: The sewers beneath the ruins of Seattle.
* Thundarr and Ookla creep along the ancient sewer system. Thundarr's broadsword is drawn and held at the ready. Ookla is several steps ahead of his friend, his mok composite bow at the ready, and his catlike eyes scanning the dark tunnels for any clues of where to go or the presence of danger. They come upon a junction, with several tunnels branching out in every direction.*
Thundarr: Where to?
Ookla: [Hell if I know. I've been guessing ever since we came down here.]
Thundarr: Your eyesight is better than mine in this light. Are there any clues as to where to go?
Ookla: [Like what? A great big sign which reads "This way to The World's Deadliest Weapon"?]
Thundarr: That would help.
Ookla [Not likely.]
Thundarr: Why not?
Ookla: [Neither of us can read.]
Thundarr: Oh yeah. Still, I'm following your lead.
Ookla: [In that case, I say we go this way.] (He points down one tunnel)
Thundarr: Why that way?
Ookla: [The gloom isn't as deep. There must be a light source that way.]
Thundarr: I can't tell the difference.
Ookla: [That's why you insisted on me taking the lead. Remember?]
Thundarr: Very well. Lead on.
Act III: Scene 116
* Thundarr and Ookla continue down the tunnel Ookla had indicated. After a couple of minutes of walking, they learn what the source of the light up ahead is. Several groundlings carrying torches come running down the tunnel.*
Groundling: There they are! Kill The intruders!
Thundarr: Ookla! Into battle! (Thundarr runs ahead) Yaaaa-heee!
Act III: Scene 117
* Ookla fires his arrows past Thundarr as the barbarian runs up the tunnel to meet the groundlings. Ookla's arrows hit each groundling with such force it passes right through the first creature and impales the one right behind it. Sometimes the arrows even take out three groundlings at once.
Thundarr closes in and slashes away with his broadsword. He slashes one groundling across the chest, thrusts the sword into another groundling's gut, the as he pulls it out he slashes a third groundling across the throat. A groundling tries to hit Thundarr with a torch. Thundarr blocks it with his sword, grabs the torch, then kicks the groundling in the chest, hurtling it back into its companions.*
Act III: Scene 118
* When the battle becomes too furious for Ookla to safely shoot into the fray without hitting Thundarr, he runs up and starts fighting hand to hand. A groundling had moved around to Thundarr's back in an attempt to sneak attack him. Ookla grabs the groundling by the neck and slams its head into the cement wall, leaving a bloody red smear. Another groundling attacks Ookla with its torch. Ookla grabs it by the wrist, sets the string of his bow against the back of the groundling's head, pulls back as far as the bow will go, then lets it go, sending the bow flying into the groundlings face at high velocity, knocking it out cold. He then takes the torch and smashes another groundling over the skull with it. Now that Ookla has his hands free, he charges a small group of the groundlings, scooping three of them up in a big bear hug, and squeezes. The groundlings kick and struggle, but even over the sounds of battle, the cracking of bones can be heard.*
Act III: Scene 119
* With a torch in one hand and a broadsword in the other, Thundarr continues to fight. He blocks one groundling's attack with his torch, then slashes it across the gut. He slashes one across the chest, decapitates a second one, then blocks a second attack with his torch while stabbing the attacker through the heart with the sword. Then Thundarr prevents another attack by cutting the groundling's hand off at the wrist and bashing it over the head with the torch.
When the groundlings in his grasp stop moving, Ookla hurls them into another group of their fellow groundlings. He grabs two of the rat-men by their ears and slams their heads together with a sickening 'crunch'. They fall at Ookla's feet, never to rise again. He grabs one from behind by the shoulder then rips its throat out with the claws on his other hand. A groundling attempts to flank Thundarr, but Ookla picks it up by its tail. He then begins swinging it around like it were a spiked ball on the end of a chain. Groundling after groundling falls victim to being bludgeoned by one of their companions being swung by the tail by a mok. The few remaining rat-men give up the fight and flee for their lives. Ookla whirls their friend about over his head and throws it down the corridor, where it hits hard against the ancient concrete wall. Whether he's dazed, dizzy, or dead is uncertain. In any event, he doesn't get back up.*
Act III: Scene 120
* Thundarr and Ookla stand victorious and breathless over the dead bodies of slain groundlings. Ookla retrieves his bow.*
Thundarr: That's the last we'll see of them for a while. So? Where to now?
Ookla: [Not that way (pointing towards where the groundlings came from). We should go in the opposite direction.]
Thundarr: Why that way? We just came from there!
Ookla: [The groundlings don't have the weapon. Otherwise they would have used it on us by now. It wouldn't be found anywhere we find the groundlings.]
Thundarr: Are you sure?
Ookla:[Not really. But it seems to make sense.]
Thundarr: Well, at least there's a good side to all this.
Ookla: [What's that?]
Thundarr: (Picking up a torch) Now we can light out way.
Ookla: (Chuckling and picking up another discarded torch) Alright. Come on.
* The barbarian and the mok leave the tunnel the same way they came in.*
Act III: Scene 121
* Thundarr and Ookla are walking through the sewers of Seattle. They come upon a stone wall, blocking the way in a dead end. The wall is old, but of a different design than the tunnel walls leading up to it. There are symbols carved into the stones that make up the wall. They are Norse runes.*
Thundarr: I think I recognize these symbols. They are similar to the ones written on the ancient paper which lead us here.
Ookla: [Then I suppose we've come to the right place.]
Thundarr: I just wish Ariel were here. She's the only one who could possibly figure out what all these mean.
Ookla: [What was it she called them?]
Thundarr: Norse . . . runes. She said the letters were used to write in a language called . . . Lah . . . tin. Even if I knew which sounds these runes were supposed to make, it would do us little good. I cannot understand this . . . Lah-tin.
Ookla: [We cannot give up now!]
Thundarr: No, we won't quit. But I do not know how to get past this wall. I'm sure there is a clue hidden in these symbols, but I cannot read them to find out what. And these stones are far too heavy for any man to lift.
Ookla: [Man perhaps. But not a mok!]
Act III: Scene 122
* Ookla begins punching away at the wall, kicking it, balling his paws together and smashing it with the sides of his fists. The stones begin to crack and break away. Ookla digs his claws into the cracks and heaves out great slabs of stone. After several minutes of pounding and clawing, of pulling out loose and broken pieces of rock, Ookla breaks a hole through the wall. Thundarr tosses first one torch inside, then another. The other side of the wall lights up from the flames.*
Thundarr: Looks safe enough.
Ookla: [Only one way to know.]
Thundarr: See you in a minute.
Thundarr crawls into the hole in the wall and disappears on the other side.
Act III: Scene 123
Location: Inside the tomb.
* Thundarr enters the tomb. He picks up one of the torches he had tossed into the hole and uses it to inspect his surroundings. There is a large stone sarcophagus at the far end of the tomb. There are smaller sarcophagi along the sides, as well as large clay jugs in between. The large sarcophagus at the far end has several large clay jugs on either end of it. The light behind Thundarr begins to flicker and move, causing Thundarr to turn around quickly in alarm. Turns out it was only Ookla. He had crawled through the hole he had dug through the wall and had picked up the other torch off the floor. Thundarr smiles in relief when he sees who it is.*
Thundarr: Who ever was buried down here must have been very important.
Ookla: [A hero's funeral.]
Thundarr: I guess so. (Thundarr looks around for a moment.) So where do you suppose this Mightiest Of Weapons is located.
Ookla: [I would think in the coffin of the hero who used it.]
Act III: Scene 124
* Thundarr and Ookla cautiously approach the large sarcophagus at the far end of the tomb. Nothing happens. They lift the stone lid off of the sarcophagus and gently set it aside. Still nothing happens. A sheet is draped over the corpse laying inside the sarcophagus. Thundarr reaches in and pulls it away, revealing the skeletal remains of the warrior who was laid to rest. Still nothing happens. The skeleton is wearing a bronze breastplate, designed to look like a man's muscular torso. On its head sits a bronze helmet, with a rotted red plume. The skeleton also wears bronze shin guards, and a studded leather kilt. Its arms are crossed over its chest, and worn on the skeletal forearms is a pair of leather bracers with metal bands riveted to them, which seems to have survived the centuries intact. Attached to one of the bracers is a golden sword hilt. *
Thundarr: Demon Dogs! There's no weapon here, Ookla! It must be in one of the other sarcophagi.
Ookla: [What now?]
Thundarr: I don't know.
Darius: Are you certain you haven't found what you are looking for?
Lords Of Light! Who said that?
Darius: I did.
* A ghostly image of a person dressed very much like the skeleton in the sarcophagus appears out of nowhere. Thundarr and Ookla take a step back, bringing their weapons to the ready.*
Thundarr: Demon Dogs! Who are you?
Darius: My name is Darius. And this is my sanctum you have violated, barbarian. Tell me. Who are you, and what is it that you seek?
Thundarr: I am Thundarr. This is my friend Ookla, a mok. We seek a weapon of great power. It is said to rest beneath the City Of Seahawks.
Darius: You already wield a weapon. Why do you seek this one?
Thundarr: That is my affair!
Darius: If you wish to leave my sanctum alive, then it is mine as well. Why?
Thundarr: We must save someone from a powerful and evil wizard. Many will be harmed if we fail.
Darius: Why is this a concern of yours?
Thundarr: The wizard who took our friend also killed our families and held us prisoner for many years. We seek vengeance!
Darius: So which motivates you to seek this weapon? The rescue of your friend? The safety of those who will be harmed in the future? Or vengeance?
Thundarr: All of them?
Darius: But which one motivates you most? (Thundarr hesitates to answer) Who is this friend you wish to rescue?
Thundarr: Princess Ariel.
Darius: And what is she to you? (Thundarr hesitates once again) What are your feelings towards her?
Thundarr: I love her.
Darius: Then what is your motivation for taking the World's Mightiest Weapon?
Thundarr: I guess . . . Love.
Darius: Good! You have passed the first test.
Thundarr: Test?
Darius: Of course! You don't think I'm going to hand The Sunsword over to just anybody, do you?
Thundarr: Well I . . .
Darius: Now for the second part of your test!
Act III: Scene 125
* Ookla is hurled through the air to slam against the ceiling and is held there by an unseen force. The stone lids of all the other sarcophagi begin sliding off, and the skeletons inside all climb out and begin advancing towards Thundarr.*
Thundarr: Demon Dogs!
Ookla: [Traitor!]
Darius: Don't be ridiculous. There is no treason here. You don't expect me to just hand my Sunsword over to just anybody without first testing his mettle, do you?
Thundarr: Another test, spirit?
Darius: One I suggest you pass, and quickly. Or else you and your friend will be joining me in my eternal slumber . . . permanently.
* Thundarr draws his broadsword. The skeletons advance towards him. Thundarr charges into the horde, slashing at the undead warriors. They fall quickly to his blade. Thundarr turns back towards Darius' spirit. Once he turns his back, the skeletons reassemble themselves, return to their feet, and attack Thundarr again. Ookla roars in protest, and Thundarr cuts them all down again. Again, as soon as he turns his back, the skeletons all reassemble themselves.*
Thundarr: Lords Of Light! How many times must I slay these things.
Darius: Only once, barbarian.
* This time when Thundarr battles the skeletons, each time he turns a skeleton into a pile of bones he grabs its skull and throws it out of the tomb. This time, every skeleton that's defeated stays down. Once they're defeated, the force holding Ookla up against the ceiling releases him and he falls to the sewer floor.*
Act III: Scene 126
Darius: Impressive.
Thundarr: Hardly. Even the groundlings put up a better fight than that.
Darius: Really?
Thundarr: Well, I will admit that trick where they rebuild themselves was impressive. But it's hardly a useful talent when they fall so easily.
Darius: I suppose you do have a point. Very well, barbarian, I grant to you . . . The Sunsword!
Thundarr: Excellent. Where is it?
Darius: Right here!
Darius moves forward and removes the bracers from the skeleton in the large sarcophagus. He turns and hands them to Thundarr. Thundarr takes the bracers from the spirit, his face screwed up in confusion.
Thundarr: This? This is The Sunsword? The mightiest of all weapons?
Darius: Of course.
Thundarr: But it is nothing more than a bladeless hilt. Was it damaged in battle?
Darius: (Laughing) Hardly.
Thundarr: Then what good is it?
Darius: You shall see. Fasten the bracers to your arms. (Thundarr does as he is asked.) You see, two thousand years ago, a runaway planet came hurtling from outer space, passed between the Earth and the Moon, and brought to Earth the art of Sorcery. This golden sword hilt is made out of ore which was a part of that very planet, making it a source of great power.
Thundarr: (Takes the Sunsword off of its bracer) So how do I make it work?
Darius: It responds to your will. You only need think it, and the blade will ignite or extinguish as you see fit.
Thundarr: (Waving the hilt about uselessly) Nothing is happening.
Darius: That is because it has not yet been attuned to you as its new master.
Thundarr: How do I get . . . attuned . . . as its new master?
Darius: Like this.
* Darius touches the hilt of the Sunsword with his ghostly finger. Ribbons of electricity writhe all over Thundarr's body. The barbarian screams in agony as his body, mind, and spirit become attuned to The Sunsword. When it's over, Thundarr finds himself on his knees. Ookla helps Thundarr back to his feet.*
Ookla: [Are you okay?]
Thundarr: I'm fine. Where's Darius?
Ookla: [Gone. I guess his job is finished.]
Thundarr: Then we had best be gone as well.
Ookla: [Do you have what you came for?]
Thundarr: (Takes out the Sunsword and ignites the blade) I do believe so.
Ookla: [In that case, let's get out of here.]
Thundarr: Aye, my friend. It's time to save Ariel.
* Thundarr and Ookla exit the tomb, their way lit by the blade of Thundarr's Sunsword. *
* Fade to black. *