A BRIDGE OF DOOM: Recent Episodes
KURT PAUL HOTELLING
THREE PATHS CONVERGE… PRELUDE: THE HOSTAGE PRINCE – The bonds are tight, his sword broken, the possibility of rescue hopeless; heir to the throne of the western kingdom, Prince Kajor will soon be sacrificed on the reptilian Grems’ primitive altar of blood and revenge. And yet, he fears neither his enemies, the endless torture, nor death but the eventual ruin of his people under their hateful claws. Doubtful of her charged task, a young woman, Royal Messenger under guidance from the only Master Enchanter, undertakes an impossible mission: seeking help from a mythical and almost forgotten demigod.
AGENTS OF THE DARK ONE – A final heartbeat, demons at the door, an appeal for help, and a chance bridge across the void of the Unknown… violations of metaphysical law during the rescue of Prince Kajor have brought the inescapable wrath and cold justice of Spectres; dark retribution and a singular, violent death stalk Royal Messenger Marie. Back home, bereft of any trace of his adventure, Paul is heartbroken amidst questions about his own sanity. Rothson can only hope his final expenditure of Power will reach demigod and enchanter before disaster befalls and all that they have achieved is overturned.
ENCHANTER’S LOT – A faint breath of shadow whispers past Maximillian amidst his private ritual of black magic, bidding him find someone; Paul helps Marie adjust to existence in his complicated world, unaware of the dark forces seeking them out; Enchanter Gaiwan's manhunt for a renegade sorcerer turns sour, bringing upon him the wrath of dragons, and a nearly impossible errand. Relentlessly, all are drawn to meet across A BRIDGE OF DOOM. *CREDITS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE - https://rss.com/podcasts/thehearkentheatre
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Marshall Garnett meets with Gaiwan and company at the Magian Alliance Athenaeum and make plans for pursuit of the fugitive. Meanwhile, Dark Mage Kalron curses his bad turn of circumstances and ponders a method of harassing his unknown pursuers, unaware the Enchanter and his companions are on his trail. An unpleasant encounter during the night makes matters difficult.
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Gaiwan and Flaena are enjoying the seashore and their honeymoon cottage. An unexpected but welcome visitor arrives and hears the tale of how the newlyweds first met. The honeymoon is interrupted by a messenger from the Marshall and bad news about Dark Mage Kalron.
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(This is Chapter Sixteen – apologies for the number overlap confusion between chapters and episodes – it’s just how scenes get placed.)
Marshall Garnett discovers the escape of probably his most notorious prisoner, Kalron. Still fettered with the disenchantment chains, the Dark Mage arrives uninvited at the keep of his former employer, Archduke Louunne. Meanwhile, a goodwife responds fearfully to her husband’s dogs barking at something unseen; Mage Trimbul and Garnett worry over how best to respond as Kalron seeks methods and means to avoid recapture.
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre** LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED –GRAPHIC VIOLENCE DEPICTED (not for immature ears).**
(Honestly, this episode makes me most uncomfortable, but ‘tis a necessary part of the story. )
Delsee, daughter of a deputy of the Marshall, visits the lockup again while conceiving methods for a prize from her advantage over the incarcerated and doomed Dark Mage Kalron.
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Happy events occur all the time – this episode highlights such as Enchanter Gaiwan tells the tale of his journey to the otherworld with Paul and Marie and his struggle against the Dark Powers of warlocks and the wicked Drow. Amidst all of this, he does his best to describe a food delicacy he observed being enjoyed in the otherworld, baffling his friends. We also witness the wedding ceremony as Gaiwan and Flaena are wed.
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Amidst his lonely incarceration while awaiting trial and punishment that will no doubt demand his execution, Dark Mage Kalron has an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, Flaena awaits the hopeful return of her intended mate, Enchanter Gaiwan, after his adventure in other realms seeking out and assisting Paul, the Prince of Light.
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Paul returns to Marie’s hospital room only to discover an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, an answer to Enchanter Gaiwan’s serious conundrum is sought.
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre** LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – STRONG LANGUAGE**
Nightmares plague Marie’s sleep in the hospital; an intruder is discovered in her room in the wee hours of the morning. Meanwhile, a university investigator grills Paul, Arthur, and Bill about the chain of unusual and mostly unexplained events with the deceased Doctor Maximillian Brinth that led to the kidnapping and incarceration of Marie, his attack and capture of Paul, the drugging of Security Officer Logan, the explosion and destruction of the Pathology sub-basement, and the mysterious disappearance of ‘Mister Gaywahn.’
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre*WARNING! This episode may create a craving for pizza.
For Marie’s protection, Enchanter Gaiwan has been nearby, unseen. A reluctant Paul is spurred by Arthur to head out and find a pizza to celebrate Marie’s awakening and apparent good mending. Gaiwan, wanting to avoid entanglements with their law, follows along, hungry and invisible.
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After a long, torturous nightmare, Marie awakens to find herself in the hospital being attended to by a very friendly nurse.
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre**LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – STRONG LANGUAGE – MYTHICAL CREATURES AND VIOLENCE**
Author/Creator’s Note: After more than a month’s concentrated labors as I sought to maximize the sound spectrum with my storytelling, I consider this complex climactic episode a masterpiece. I hope you enjoy it. (If you don’t, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.)
Back on Paul’s world (Earth), the wounded Enchanter Gaiwan accompanies Paul, Bill, and Art as they seek the mysterious Room 002 in the sub-basement of the same Medical School building where they confronted Doctor Maximillian Brinth before he escaped from his lab. Following a vision from Gaiwan’s crystal, they hope to find Marie, yet are only vaguely aware of the Dark Powers working against them.
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Gaiwan’s companions are plagued by visions, nightmares, and unexplained sensations, unaware that he has traversed between worlds as opposed to crossing regions of FE’eck. Freethinker Priest OB’louie seeks a method of providing aid to the Enchanter during his sojourn to unknown realms.
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre** LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – SEXUAL SITUATIONS**
Doctor Maximillian Brinth has been knocked unconscious. Arthur attends to Gaiwan’s gunshot wound while Paul puzzles over who is the mysterious blonde woman that has appeared and where Marie might have gone.
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Two of Paul’s friends discover Enchanter Gaiwan unconscious on his dormitory room floor and, along with the destruction of his desk, wonder what violence transpired while debating calling the Police.
Paul emerges from a psychic concussion to discover Doctor Maximillian Brinth and Marie taking him forcibly to his lab in the old medical school. Brinth deliberates on all the problems he must overcome quickly for a successful finish to the scheme of the otherworld evil Drow warlock, SO’kandra.
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As storm clouds gather and situations begin to reveal and entangle, here is a brief and powerful intermezzo. (Due to the brevity, we have chosen to dispense with the usual introductions and final credits.) To be continued… very soon!
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre** LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – STRONG LANGUAGE**With Paul’s mysterious illness resurging, Enchanter Gaiwan knows of little to do except leave him to sleeping. At the same time, his curiosity about the glowing box guides him to discover strange artifacts and a friend of Paul’s. Meanwhile, his wardmate mudcat, Glink, alerts him to suspicious goings on leading to violent confrontations. ABOUT THE MEMORIAM: Arthur William Bloxham, Jr., was a classmate, dear friend, and colleague who passed via unfortunate circumstances. Years before this, he graciously provided his voice for his persona in the books. You can learn more about him on the Internet – there were several articles about him published. Email = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com**
Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre**Realizing he has somehow traveled to an entirely different world, Enchanter Gaiwan wrangles with adjusting to the unusual environment and its surroundings. On his request, Paul takes him on a tour of the campus as they seek Marie and the teacher she is meeting. Synchronicity intervenes and, amidst worries that his powers might be ineffectual in this world, Gaiwan discovers a seriously disturbing problem, perhaps the cause of all that is wrong with Paul. Email = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre**Drifting through untold layers of the invisible planes, Enchanter Gaiwan experiences depthless agony in his journey to find Paul, unaware that he has leaped between worlds. The demigod he seeks, beset with a mysterious illness, has no idea of who or what is about to unravel. Email = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre**LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – SEXUAL SITUATIONS** Enchanter Gaiwan is haunted by a nightmare and knows Time is precious as he deliberates on using the mystical Transfer Key to somehow find Paul after the plea for help. Meanwhile, though imprisoned while waiting for final judgement, Dark Mage Kalron ponders a possible route for escape from the headman’s axe. Email = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
https://thehearkentheatre.com**Aftermath of the Battle for Hopetown and Enchanter Gaiwan’s duel with Dark Mage Kalron. This is the final episode of Book One and features an Epilogue followed by a Preview of Book Two.Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatreEmail = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
https://thehearkentheatre.com**Master Mage Trimbul is awoken and alerted to the impending emergency. With Gaiwan and Chania and their companions, they puzzle over Dark Mage Kalron’s ultimate goal, aware that the town will face a violent siege this day. Warnings are made to the Marshall, allies are summoned, while all await the arrival and approach of Kalron with his hired army to attack Hopetown.Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatreEmail = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
https://thehearkentheatre.com**The combined company of Gaiwan’s and Chania’s companions lie in wait for Kalron’s hired robbers and fighting men to arrive at their camp, then learn their battle plans for seizing and plundering Hopetown as well as much worse. Despite being outmatched in size, they determine possible methods for waylaying or defeating the robbers. Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatreEmail = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
https://thehearkentheatre.com**On the Southwest road as they proceed on horseback, Lazar’s wardmate hawk spots trouble ahead – the highway robbers lying in wait with a clever trap for travelers. Gaiwan and Chania initiate their planned reverse trap in hopes of foiling the enemy.Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatreEmail = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.com
Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre**The combined company of Enchanter Gaiwan and Princess Chania head southwest in their manhunt for the Dark Mage Kalron and his band of highway robbers. In the evening of their first camp as everyone gets acquainted, Kluff and Chania separate from the company to follow an enthralling scent that guides them to meet, against his better judgement, a mysterious old crone, a seer residing in the deeps of the forest. Email = thehearkentheatre@yahoo.comhttps://thehearkentheatre.com
[Episode Seventeen]
LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – INTIMATE ADULT SITUATIONS
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Dark Mage Kalron confers with his hired fighters and makes final plans for attacking Hopetown including defeating Marshall Garnett and stealing necessary articles from the Magian Alliance Athenaeum that will make possible the destruction of Enchanter Gaiwan. Meanwhile, on the eve of their journey with Princess Chania to seek out Kalron, Gaiwan explains to Flaena about Kluff’s past and his powersword.
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Princess Chania dines with Enchanter Gaiwan in the Brass Dragon Tavern as they discuss their impending manhunt for the renegade Dark Mage Kalron. Arriving with miner friends, an angry Caffer interrupts their meal to accost and threaten Gaiwan.
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Enchanter Gaiwan walks a meadow near Hopetown as he contemplates upon the dragon crystal’s origins and the upcoming manhunt for the Dark Mage Kalron. Suspicion of Gaiwan is expressed by one of Princess Chania’s companions as he argues with OB’louie over unseen motivations.
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LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – EXPLICIT SEXUAL SITUATIONS
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Kluff enjoys being approached by a beautiful Elf woman, then is rudely surprised by her companions. Thasgar and Gahn escape an unpleasant encounter with a former boss pleading, dealing, then scolding them for abandoning him. Gaiwan and Flaena enjoy a quiet morning together. Meanwhile, across the bridge of doom, Doctor Brinth plans for Paul’s abduction from the university as he obeys SO’kandra’s orders.
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LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL SITUATIONS
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Recovering from their violent encounter with thieves sent by Kalron, Enchanter Gaiwan and Flaena are suppering at the Brass Dragon Tavern and Inn when an unexpected visitor calls on them. Elfen Kluff is challenged with an accusation aimed at Gaiwan by two unknown visitors who seek restitution or revenge.
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While studying together in the Magian Alliance Athenaeum, Flaena learns about Gaiwan’s tragic orphaning and events that brought him to the reclaimed realm of Ru and Hopetown. But, when evening arrives, danger stalks them.
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As a huge storm builds in the sky, Flaena, and Kluff observe from the window of Mage Trimbul’s withdrawing chambers as Enchanter Gaiwan begins a mysterious invocation – perhaps, despite his reassurances, he’s gone mad!
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Flaena awakens pleasantly in her own bed before remembering the terrible events of the previous night. Hopeful, she seeks out Enchanter Gaiwan, but is not prepared for what she finds.
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Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre**LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – SEXUAL SITUATIONS**
Doctor Brinth unexpectedly meets the individual sent by SO’kandra to help him capture Paul. Gunther, the wererat that escaped the Lost City, nears the moment when he pounces upon his prey. Flaena attends to Gaiwan in his coma, then all discover the frightening truth of his strange fever. Mage Trimbul labors to assist while Freethinker Priest OB’louie offers valuable insights.
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LISTENERS MAY FIND SOME CONTENT DISTURBING -- DISCRETION ADVISED ***
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Immersed happily in the market square, Flaena is at first unaware of Gaiwan’s unveiling danger in the dragon crystal and the nightmare trap of sorcery and warped enslavement in which he falls. Meanwhile, someone carrying a secret message seeks the Enchanter, but with his mentor, Trimbul, he must first settle disputes with angry merchants before returning to challenge that which has entangled him. ***
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Remembering events of his encounter with the Spectre on the road to the Royal Fortress City of Foruhn sets Gaiwan to seeking a wardmate. The next day, everyone pursues small chores: Thasgar seeks a new sword as his old one from Royal service to the Marshall as a deputy is getting worn and won’t hold an edge. Flaena decides to shop for materials and new clothing while Gaiwan consults with his mentor, Mage Trimbul, about the crystal he received for safekeeping from the King of Dragons – he hopes it might serve to replace the scrying crystal destroyed by the Spectre, unaware of what’s hidden in its depths.
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Enchanter Gaiwan and companions return to the safety and pleasant amenities of civilization in the reclaimed kingdom of Ru and Hopetown for a well-needed recovery; Flaena is concerned about his wounds, delaying reunion with his mentor at the Magian Alliance keep. Knowing the peril in which he has placed himself concerning the Dark Mage, Kalron, the Enchanter seeks advancement and faces severe testing by his teacher. Unknown to them, there is a further escape from the Lost City of the Underground.
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LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED -- SEXUAL INFERENCE AND RITUAL VIOLENCE ***
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Marie and Paul arrive on Ninth Street, searching for a bank with an account set up just for her, unaware of the dark forces seeking them. Doctor Maximillian Brinth prepares to perform a conjuring of Black Magic, seeking to wreak a little havoc in the medical center of the university.
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[Episode Four]
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At the last possible instant, Durbriag, King of Dragons, relocates everyone distant and safe from the violence and deadly fury of Viree, Queen of Dragons. And yet, after a night of rest, Enchanter Gaiwan and companions find they are not alone in the ancient forest.
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LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL INFERENCES
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The mysterious dragon crystal’s effect has reached far beyond the cavern, bringing with it unimagined consequences. Enchanter Gaiwan and his companions are confronted with intrusion and mythical visitations.
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LISTENER DISCRETION ADVISED – STRONG LANGUAGE AND VIOLENCE
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Their bounty hunt for the renegade sorcerer has met with mild disaster, Enchanter Gaiwan and companions magically dominated to do his bidding. In the company of his scantily clad female companion and two shapechanging wererats, the sorcerer intends to sacrifice his unfortunate captives as fodder for a dragon residing in a cave hidden in the depths of the Lost City of the Underground.
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A faint breath of shadow whispers past Maximillian amidst his private ritual of black magic, bidding him find someone; Paul wonders about Enchanter Gaiwan who is on a manhunt for a renegade sorcerer. Relentlessly, all are drawn to meet across A BRIDGE OF DOOM.
Ko-fi.com/thehearkentheatre **** Melodic voices call for awakening and healing as the palace recovers from the aftermath of the Spectres' attack. Argument ensues over why specific warnings were not given, why more wasn’t done to protect Marie from imminent death. And what happens, now?
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The Enchanter has vanished, the Royal Gala starts to wind down and all seems calm; Paul and Marie discover something changed in their feelings for one another. Sensing an intuitive urgency for escape before an undefined and deadly threat, Gaiwan heads out of the fortress city while Paul finds himself mysteriously lost in the depths of the palace.
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Amidst despondency at the inevitability of their separate fates, Paul and Marie’s gala evening is invaded by an unexpected and suspicious visitor avoiding official notice. Despite vague hopes that seem like a candleflame in the distance, the shadow of the Spectres seems closer than they realize.
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The Enchanter struggles against the aftermath of his encounter with the Spectre while Paul and Marie, unaware of the impending peril, attend the Royal Gala and meet the Prince they rescued, now a young King, amidst celebration. Paul learns of the Master Enchanter’s violent demise and seeks to somehow prevent Marie from encountering the same fate before he is drawn back to his homeworld.
Paul returns to Marie’s world by unknown circumstance; Marie is distraught with the mysterious death of her friend, Master Enchanter Rothson and how she is shunned by the citizens despite her heroic part of the Prince’s rescue. Meanwhile, a call for battle arises when the rare sight of a dragon wings its way toward the Royal Fortress City. A young Enchanter’s journey to meet his mentor is twisted into shadow.
A final heartbeat, demons at the door, an appeal for help, and a chance bridge of doom across the void of the Unknown -- violations of metaphysical law during the rescue of Prince Kajor have brought the inescapable wrath and cold justice of Spectres. Back home, bereft of any trace of his adventure with Marie, Paul is heartbroken amidst questions about his own sanity. Master Enchanter Rothson can only hope his desperate expenditure of Power will somehow avert disaster.
Anariach's captors prepare to drag him to the battlefield to be killed as an example and a threat to the western kingdom. Meanwhile, with the Master Enchanter's help, Marie devises a way to hopefully find and rescue the Crown Prince before he meets a bloody sacrificial death at the claws of the reptilian Grems.
As a somewhat unwilling companion, Paul finds himself suddenly and unexplainably thrust into an entirely different world and not just Earth in a different time as evidenced by the double suns in the sky. Is this simply an elaborate dream? And why has he been brought here? And is he really as ineffectual as he seems to be? Spectres lurking in the background hint at something hidden from him.
Our Royal Messenger reaches a destination unlike anywhere she could possibly imagine. The specific individual to whom she is guided awakens to a situation and enemies he could never have imagined.
The bonds are tight, his sword broken, the possibility of rescue hopeless; heir to the throne of the western kingdom, Prince Kajor will soon be sacrificed on the reptilian Grems’ primitive altar of blood and revenge. And yet, he fears neither his enemies, the endless torture, nor death but the eventual ruin of his people under their hateful claws. Doubtful of her charged task, a young woman, Royal Messenger under guidance from the only Master Enchanter, undertakes an impossible mission: seeking help from a mythical and almost forgotten demigod.
PRELUDE: THE HOSTAGE PRINCE – The bonds are tight, his sword broken, the possibility of rescue hopeless; heir to the throne of the western kingdom, Prince Kajor will soon be sacrificed on the reptilian Grems’ primitive altar of blood and revenge. And yet, he fears neither his enemies, the endless torture, nor death but the eventual ruin of his people under their hateful claws. Doubtful of her charged task, a young woman, Royal Messenger under guidance from the only Master Enchanter, undertakes an impossible mission: seeking help from a mythical and almost forgotten demigod.