The Prometheans (Play)

The Prometheans

Background

The Prometheans was a well known late eighteenth century play. Written during the height of the Exponential Empire the play is theorized to have been written to glorify the colonial expansion done in the not so distant past. It was written by the playwright Marcellus Brabentius. The play describes the Empire’s arrival to Hesperidesia, the settlers had come across a beautiful land but the people of the land were uncivilized. Leading lives of savagery and sin the settlers brought God, fire, and civilization to the people. In return for taxes paid in the form of food, blankets, crafts, and physical labor, they were provided with the protection of the settlers and a path out of savagery.

Character List

The Settlers Captain - Marcus Baro (R) Captains Advisor - The messenger - Lars Ignatius (R) The Natives Chief Lucius Mutius (R) Villager 1 - Julianus Nepius (R) Julianus Nepius (R) The Heretics The demons Native Allies

Plot

Act I

Julianus Nepius was on the banks of the land when the settlers arrived with their ships, when he saw them he ran back to his tribe. When he arrived the land is shown to be barren and worn, thatched homes falling to ruins. As he spoke some of what he saw Chief Mutius gave him the task to bring back one of the settlers and prove they were of no threat. Following the orders of Chief Mutius he ran back to the riverbank, gesturing for what seemed to be their leader (Marcus Baro) to join him. He sent his advisor (Lars Ignatius) in his place.  

Act II

Once at the village the Lars noticed many of the people appeared to be sick, the homes were crumbling and there was no sign of fire. Him and Chief Mutius of the village shared a piece of bread from his bag. In response to his offering the villagers presented him with a piece of raw meat. Lars, realizing the opportunity, chose to teach them how to cook meat by making a fire for them. Once the meat was cooked they shared it, and from this point forward he was called “the messenger” by the villagers. It was from their enlightenment began.

Act III

In act three of the play Lars gives the newly indoctrinated natives weapons with a call to action. There were those among them that rejected the teaching of the messenger, these people were to be educated, the weapons were only to be used if the demons among them attacked. The allies agreed, after all their lives have improved exponentially since accepting the ways of the messenger.

The settlers and their native allies marched on a city known to be filled with heretics, they began by peacefully requesting that they join them. Many refused, begging those among the settlers to reject the teachings of the messenger. The settlers reminded those among them of the protection that has been offered and the consequences of rejecting God.  

This infuriated the heretics and the demons among them attacked. A bloody battle broke out, the demons among the natives shed the illusion of humanity, they embraced a dark demonic gaze. They attacked the settlers and their allies, killing many with a brutality rivaling hell itself. Caught up in the fever of the brutality and their false gods the heretics attacked. Many died on this day. As if to show God’s grief at the bloodshed the heavens opened during the battle. The settlers and their allies are shown as protective and reluctant to attack despite the savage advance, only resorting to violence as a final resort. The play ends with the messenger shown standing over a slain demon as the storm breaks and a beam of light shines on him.