[MMM4A] Of Gods & Monsters [Captain Listener][First Mate Speaker][God Speaker][Prophet Speaker][Action][Drama][Journeying Through The Underworld][Threats of Violence][Implied Murder/Mass Death][Greek Mythology][Lore]

This script is inspired by Jorge Rivera-Herrans’ ‘Epic: The Musical', a musical adaptation of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’.

Characters:

[K] Kassander

[CM] Crewmate

[H] Hades

[P] Prophet

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BEGIN

[The scene opens with the listener, the captain, standing at the front of their ship as it sails along the Acheron River, into the Underworld. Their crew push their oars to and fro with great strength, but it is clear that they are hesitant to do so. Low, incomprehensible whispers can be heard from the souls beneath the water’s surface, and this pushes the first mate, Kassander, to speak up. He walks across the ship, stopping beside the listener.]

“Are you certain this is the right way, captain? We’re… we’re heading straight for the Palace of Hades. And those souls in the water… I hear their whispers…”

[The listener reassures him, but doubt still creeps into Kassander’s mind. He looks above at the shadowed stalactites, of which shine dimly from the glow of the torches onboard the ship.]

“No. No, I’m not afraid. I told you this before we set sail off the shores of Ithaca, and I assure you my words are yet to prove false. I only speak so boldly out of concern for your men.”

[He glances over his shoulder and looks at the tired yet nervous expressions of the crew.]

“They’re tired. Unfit for battle. We cannot lose any more to a senseless skirmish of primitive emotion. Do you understand, captain?”

[They nod. Kassander stares at them for a moment longer, studying their expression. Fragments of insincerity lay upon the captain’s face.]

“I hope you speak the truth.”

[A small pause. He rests a hand on the captain’s shoulder.]

“Ithaca will wait for us. It will be patient so long as we are. If there is a prophet along this river of the undead, as you have told us, who can help us return home, then we shall continue our journey with courage.”

[He leans into the listener ever so slightly, his hand still resting on their shoulder.]

“We have faith in you, captain. All I ask is for you to look away from the unruly path ahead and remind yourself of whom you stand with. You’re not as alone as you think yourself to be.”

[He gives the captain a small, comforting smile, when all of a sudden, a low yet powerful voice echoes across the cavern.]

[???] “How right you are, little Kassander.”

[K] “Who is that?”

[Alert, he unsheathes his sword and raises his voice.]

“Make yourself known!”

[As soon as he says this, the once still water of the Acheron River erupts into waves. The ship begins to rock back and forth ferociously, and the crew, panicked, attempt to regain control of their oars. Meanwhile, Kassander and the listener try to keep their balance amidst the chaos.]

“Wh-What’s happening?! Captain, we need to act!”

[???] “Cease! Abandon all hope, all who dare to enter my kingdom! This is as far as you will go.”

[K] “Your kingdom? Y-You are… Captain, it’s-”

[H] “Hades.”

[The listener watches as a large, fierce wave crashes onto the deck of the ship, dragging some of their men into the water below. They swear they can see a multitude of arms reach out from the wave and grab each man as it does so. The arms of the deceased…]

[K] “Our men!”

[Kassander, without hesitation, runs towards the remnants of the wave, whilst the rest of the crew scatter across the ship. The listener attempts to follow, pushing past members of their frightened crew. All of a sudden, someone on the ship yells out to them.]

[CM] “Captain, behind you!”

[Before they can react, another wave crashes onto the ship, and pulls the listener into the river. It’s unusually still beneath the waves. Almost tranquil, aside from the whispers of the dead. Dazed from the impact, they sink into the murky depths of the water… but they are far from alone. A silent pause follows, before that same low voice speaks to them once more. Seemingly from within their mind.]

[H] “Hermes informed me of your arrival. Although, where you intend to sail is something I have yet to be told. Tell me, captain, what did you intend on achieving, travelling across the Acheron River? What could be of interest to a mortal in my realm? A divine favour? A lost love? Riches? You will not find such things here.”

…

“Cease. Abandon your hope. And return to ashes.”

[The listener’s mind begins to fade, as they are pulled deeper and deeper by the souls within the water, and the audio fades to silence. After a moment, the audio fades back in. Exhausted, and aching, the listener awakens on a cold, stone ledge beside the Acheron River. Trembling, they try to push themselves up onto their feet, but to no avail. Before they can give up, a hand reaches out to them.]

[???] “Do you need help, traveller?”

[They look up to see a cloaked man with an outstretched hand, holding a wooden staff in the other. However, when they meet his eyes, they notice something strange. He has no pupils, nor irises. They are just… white. The listener briefly catches their reflection within them.]

“Well?”

[The listener furrows their brow with suspicion and takes his hand. Once the man pulls them up, he begins to stagger away, leaning against his staff as he does. The listener follows cautiously.]

“It’s a strange thing to see a living being this deep in the Underworld. I thought you to be a ghost upon first glance… but I knew it could not be.”

[A brief pause.]

“Who am I?”

[He thinks for a second before responding.]

“I am nobody. Not man nor spirit.”

[Suddenly, he stops walking and turns to face the listener. Caught off guard, the listener also stops.]

“But I know you. A pilgrim, a captain… a monster. You glare at me so, but you know I am right.”

[A brief silence.]

“Three hundred men lost to the might of Poseidon, one hundred of which you offered in secrecy, followed by six hundred strikes to the god himself with his very own trident. No human is capable of such a deed.”

[Furious, the listener storms towards him, knocks his staff to the floor, and grabs him by the collar of his ragged shirt.]

“Do not take your displeasure out on me, traveller. For I am the very thing of which you seek. I am the prophet who resides within these caves… and I see your only means of escape.”

[The listener lets go, and the prophet falls onto the cold, damp stone below. They unsheathe their sword and point it towards him.]

“I see a song of repressed remorse, I see a ship on the shores of Ithaca, I see a lifetime of pride and joy and self loathing… but, I also see an exchange of words. A test… with a king…”

[They slowly crouch to the ground and listen carefully to the prophet’s words.]

“We stand within his kingdom, at this very moment… and he believes you to be dead.”

[A brief pause. The listener questions him.]

“His palace lies cloaked in shadows, neither here nor there, invisible to the mortal eye. The ferryman only brings those who have fallen to his majesty’s gates. Though… a bribe may work in your favour.”

[After considering his words carefully, the listener stands up and puts their sword away. They take a couple of steps towards the river and look to see where it flows. As they do, the prophet grabs his staff and uses it to pull himself up. They ask him another question.]

“Kassander?”

[A brief pause.]

“The two of you shall soon reunite.”

[They turn to face him.]

“I promise.”

[Staff in hand, he staggers towards the listener.]

“Now go, traveller.”

[He stops in front of them.]

“Ithaca awaits you.”

[With that, the listener begins to walk alongside the river, leaving the prophet behind them. He mumbles to himself as they walk away.]

“May Lord Hades have mercy on you, monster.”

[The listener’s footsteps, the low whispers of the dead from the river, and the assortment of sounds from within the cavern fade to silence.]

END

Would you like to read this Google Docs? Click here!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Usage: Alteration is completely fine, as long as it’s minor.

Monetisation: Also fine, as long as I’m credited and have access to the projects you use my scripts for (e.g. Youtube, Patreon, etc). 

Socials: cherryteacup.bsky.social (Bluesky), lilacgingerteaa (X/Twitter), u/cherryteacup (Reddit. Please use this when you credit me).

Commissions: Want to commission me? Take a peek at the options available on my ko-fi! (Which can be accessed via my Linktree).

NOTE: Please remember to inform me when you use my script! Whether this is through Reddit or X/Twitter doesn’t matter, just remember to tell me when you’ve completed and uploaded a fill! Thank you! :]