Act IX – The Last Thread
Scene one.Near the tavern, midnight. Three people are standing by the door – a Peasant, a Monk, and a Stablehand. They wanted to drink ale and rest, but the tavern is closed. The Monk
WhiteLizard suggests they sit in his humble home, and the others agree. At home, after a mug of ale, the monk feels unwell; he's nauseous, pain contorts his face, and within minutes, he dies despite his friends’ attempts to help him. The Peasant and the Stablehand panic; the girl pours all the ale on the floor, and the Stablehand takes off the necklace with five rings from the monk's neck – blue, yellow, black, green, and red – before both run away.
Scene two.Early morning, a forest hut. A woodcutter
crabby comes out of it. He heads towards the lake, lights a small fire, brews herbal tea, and greets the new dawn.
Actors in masks:Woodcutter crabby, an eternally drunk worker who found cursed boots.
Chaldean Ellina, a jealous tavern owner located deep in the forest.
Executioner HoM[M]ie, a man with a broken heart who executed his own bride.
Stablehand Tolikandro, who fed his wife to her lovers for dinner.
Peasant Нэйра Дрейк, a simple peasant son, a lover of kvass.
Ghosts:Hunter Deriel_Linch, a seasoned old wolf who hunts not only animals.
Blacksmith Hermit, an elderly craftsman who strangled his apprentice out of greed.
Wanderer redwhait, a mountain hermit in a dirty cloak and crumpled top hat.
Clockmaker Thorium, a young girl whose life is forever trapped within broken clocks.
Fortune Teller Ta Kotoraya..., a lover of night walks, never parting with her deck of cards and knife.
Gravedigger Brackman, a senile old man who attacks passersby.
Gardener Arandor, living by the forest, in whose garden grow wondrous flowers.
Thief Morning, a greedy rogue obsessed with other people's gold.
Actor Magnus, an employee of a provincial theater, ridiculed by the audience.
Madman Xostor, a shaggy and gray-haired guy who caught lightning in his bag.
Pirate WisTrit, a grumpy-looking old man, whose veins are long filled with rum.
Widow Werevolka, a beautiful and unhappy woman who stopped her neighbor's harassment with an axe.
Count Гур, owner of many estates, in whose castle young girls disappear without a trace.
Monk WhiteLizard, a mysterious man hiding under a monk's robe.
Forester Nebo, a hospitable old man who feeds wolves.
The ninth day begins!