Updated: Aug 15
After nearly two decades of conflict, a young Prince is not only passed his father’s crown but his ambition to unite the divided kingdom too. However, learning from his father’s mistakes, the young Prince plans to conquer through alliance rather than war.
“Ploy” by R. S. Chintalapati explores the themes of love and war while noting how the conspirator saved more lives with his plan while just backstabbing a backstabber.
Credits
Edition II: Edited by Tarun Chintam & illustrated by Sravani Dhuliapala.
Edition I: Edited by Raghu Pusapati.
Product
This drama is available in paperback & ebook.
Contents
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Background
King Orkin, the seventh descendant of the Rian kingdom divided his kingdom into two kingdoms three decades ago on the request of his daughter Gloria to give her husband a share. Dividing the Rian into two provinces formed the northern kingdom called the Glorian and the southern kingdom called the Lorian.
While Queen Gloria ruled along with her husband the Glorian Kingdom, Prince Lorian who is the only son of King Orkin took his father’s crown to rule the Lorian Kingdom. Though Lorian did not agree to the partitioning of the Rian Kingdom, his words weren’t taken into account.
So when Prince Lorian became a king, he vowed to unite the kingdoms and restore the Rian Kingdom to its glory. So for decades, both the kingdoms fought and the Northern kingdom always won because in between the Northern and the Southern kingdoms, there were mountains called Crossover which had the Northern military bases. So when the Southerners attacked, the Northern soldiers killed half of them with arrows before even facing them in person.
This play begins with the death of King Lorian in the Lorian Province.
Characters
Anthony: King of Lorian Kingdom
Patrick: King of Glorian Kingdom
Kingston: General of Lorian Kingdom
Lancelot: General of Glorian Kingdom
Rose: Princess of Glorian Kingdom
Arian: Poet
Prim: Messenger of Lorian Kingdom
Lily: Maid to Princess Rose.
Scene I
This scene takes place in the private chambers of Prince Anthony at Lorian’s Province.
[Enter Kingston]
Kingston:
How are you, my prince? It has been a dreadful day for everyone in the Lorian kingdom as we lost our beloved King whom we all adored. His highness’s judgment was unparalleled and his wisdom was unquestionable... However, even great men must someday bow to the two ultimate masters’ namely time and fate. Your father, my prince, has shown this world what a good king could ever be and hadn’t he been so strong mentally, chaos would have taken. If not for him, your grandfather’s mistakes would have cost a lot more than land. I must regretfully mention that your grandfather as you know wasn’t as honourable as our king was.
Anthony:
My father was wise and strong. Even though I share the same opinion, what was he doing when my grandfather divided the Rian Kingdom into two? For decades, he fought against his sister and lost thousands of men but never stood up as a victor. To date, General Kingston, Rian Kingdom is still divided. Believe me, I have never thought of uniting the Rian Kingdom until my father in his last moments whispered on his dying bed that he wishes me to win over the Glorians and unite everything forever.
Kingston:
Even great men fail in achieving everything and our King could never win against the Glorians though he tried every time. They believe that the hills of Crossover are protecting them and that their banners fight for justice but they are fighting for your traitor uncle who wished the Rian Kingdom to be divided. Lost in love for his daughter, your grandfather gave the North and it’s banners to your aunt Gloria. I still remember it as if it just happened yesterday. Everyone in the council opposed your grandfather but the order still prevailed. I was one of the generals who fought beside our King and every time we attacked them, they rain fired arrows upon us. Before our men even started the attack, thousands would already be injured and hundreds would lay dead. Tell me, Prince Anthony, how would you fight in order to achieve victory?
Anthony:
General Kingston, even though my father lost every battle, he still managed to destroy a few forces. According to the recent report by our spies, my beloved uncle King Patrick has only a few warriors left and the only thing I need to do is make the sheep welcome a fox for their supper. I have a plan that can unite Rian and fulfil my claim as the king, thereby fulfilling my father’s dream.
[Kingston looked puzzled]
Anthony:
Send a messenger to King Patrick to inform him that I wish to marry his daughter Rose and failing to comply with my order, he shall have to face me. Let him also know that we are aware of the fact that his army is nothing compared to ours and even if we lose ten soldiers to one of his, the rest shall slaughter every last one of them.
[Kingston smiled]
Scene II
This scene takes place beside Lake Reiniger in the Glorian Province. Resting underneath a tree on the banks of the river is Arian. [Enter Rose] Arian: The jewel of my heart! How long has it been since I embraced you and felt your warmth? There wasn’t a day my thoughts could stay without you and as moments pass by without your presence, my verses are going wilder as they embrace darkness unable to find rays of love kindled by your affection. My throne is your lap while I rest on it fondled by your black silky hair and my castle is your heart where my soul lives forever.
[Rose and Arian embrace] Rose: Nothing in this world is more beautiful than your words and hold not for another moment for I am yours to fill my thoughts with your elixir. This very moment, I would love to cherish your verses as I have spent enough time in my garden asking the birds about you. To my comfort, they have always mentioned that you craved for me maybe because they know our love is eternal but I could not ride to meet you until our General Lancelot was back from the hills. Though by rank he is a general, he is like a father to me and he knows everything about our love. He gladly accepted my choice and exclaimed nothing is purer than an honest girl’s desire. Arian: That is so noble of him. Wise men always recognize true emotions and for his kind heart from this very moment he is also a father to me. Before anything else my dove, tell me as to when you will tell your father about our love? Would he even care to accept a poet, a man who enjoys nothing but beauty around him, singing ballads and writing verses? Wouldn’t he expect his son-in-law to be a ferocious warrior who could lead his army while having an inordinate amount of wealth that could bury this world in gold? Rose: Darling, who said you are not a warrior? Show me a learnt man who would dare say a sword is more powerful than a quill? I trust that my father is one wise man who would gladly accept my choice. Considering the times, he needs a man with intellect, not ferocity, as strategy and tactics together dictate victory. You, my love, are equal to ten ferocious warriors and every Glorian would rejoice when you would be crowned. I can no longer stay away from you and I shall let my father know about you. Let us just hope that the Gods are in favour of our pursuit. [Arian and Rose spent the next few moments sitting beside the river’s bank under the tree]
Scene III
This scene takes place in King Patrick’s throne room at the Glorian Kingdom.
[Enter Lancelot]
Lancelot:
Your highness, there is a messenger from the Lorian province who requests an audience with you. Shall I let him in? He tells me that Prince Anthony sent him to convey a message to your highness himself.
Patrick:
General Lancelot, send him in and come back along with him. I want you to listen to what the young prince has to inform me before he is taking his throne. I wish he was not as adamant as his father was, to slaughter his men like pigs for defeating us. I wish he does not continue working on his father’s dream that would never turn to be a reality.
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