Summary: You're planning to overthrow the queen in a fantasy world, and you want to recruit one of the most skilled rogues in the land to help in your mission. However, this meeting won't be going quite how you planned.

Script:

[Ambient sounds of tavern in the background]

[getting your attention] Over here. You’re the one who’s been looking for me, right?

[pause]

[scoffing] Please. You’ve been all over town asking about me. You really thought I wouldn’t hear about it?

[pause]

Sit down. Let’s talk.

[pause]

So what are you? Some kind of bounty hunter?

[pause]

Don’t look so surprised. You couldn’t have made it more obvious. [lowers her voice to a smug whisper] You might think you’re good at concealing your weapons, but I can spot those daggers a mile away. In fact, you were so distracted with trying to find me that you didn’t even notice me stealing them from you. Here. You can have them back.

[She pulls out several small daggers and drops them on the table, letting them clatter on the wood]

So tell me. Did you come here to this tavern thinking you could capture me and collect the bounty on my head?

[pause]

What? You’re not here for that? Then why exactly have you been looking for me?

[pause]

You’re building a team? For what?

[pause]

[slightly shocked] You want to overthrow the queen? [lowering voice to a whisper] You know that’s suicide, right? Even just talking like that is dangerous. You never know who’s listening.

[pause]

What is your plan anyway? As skilled as I may be, this seems like the kind of job for a sorceress or someone with magical capabilities. What do you need me for?

[pause]

What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me enough to know at least some of the details? After all, you’re the one who came looking for me.

[pause]

You need me to steal keys off the royal guards? It’s not as easy as you make it out to be. Each of the guards has a different set of keys each day, so you’ll need to know which guard has the keys you need on whichever day you carry out your plan. And when the guards realize they’re missing their keys, the castle goes on full lockdown. You won’t be able to make it in or out.

[pause]

How do I know so much about the castle? I’m in the business of knowing things. You’d be surprised what a royal servant might reveal with enough booze in their system. In any case, how far along are you with this plan of yours? How many others are on the team?

[pause]

Interesting. And what do you plan on doing once you’ve taken the throne?

[pause]

[chuckles softly] Careful with that kind of talk. If word of your planned revolution makes it to the authorities, they’ll have your head.

[pause]

In any case, before I decide whether or not to join you, I *do* have something I need you to do for me.

[pause]

You see the pendant on my necklace? Do you know what the gem in the middle is? Here. I’ll take the necklace off so you can get a better look at it.

[pause]

This gem is called a “sleepwalker’s crystal.” It’s very rare, only found inside certain enchanted trees within the Forest of Souls. It has some magical properties, which make it extra valuable, but aside from that, it is truly a beautiful crystal. You certainly haven’t been able to take your eyes off of it since I drew your attention to it, have you?

Go on. Get a closer look. Watch while I swing the pendant back and forth.

[starting now, the tavern noises in the background slowly begin to fade out. Her voice gets more soothing and hypnotic over time as well]

Isn’t it eye-catching? The way it changes color and almost seems to glow when you stare deeper into it? You feel it almost pulling you in, tempting you to gaze deeper… and deeper… and deeper…

[layered voices slowly fade in overtop her dialogue. Layered voices whisper things like: “Deeper and deeper,” and “Back and forth,” and “Stare at the crystal.” Add more ad libbed phrases if you want]

[chuckles] And now you’re already caught. No matter how hard you may try, you can’t look away from the swinging pendant, can you? Go ahead. Try to avert your gaze. The more you try to look away, it just tires out your brain, making your mind weaker… and making you sleepier… and sleepier… and sleepier…

You see, they call this a “sleepwalker’s crystal” because anyone who looks at it too long falls into a deep hypnotic trance. The more they stare, the sleepier they become, and that sleepiness quickly turns into an irresistible obedience. It’ll only be a few more seconds before you’re fully under the gem’s power. And when that happens, you won’t be able to resist my commands.

Shhhhhh… don’t fight it. Just listen to the sound of my voice. Let it lull you to sleep… into a peaceful, comfortable, hypnotic slumber.

Sleep… sleep… sleep…

[all sounds have completely faded. The silence lasts a few seconds before her voice slowly fades back in, beckoning the listener to wake up. Tavern noises are gone]

[ambient sounds of forest fade in]

Time to wake up. Come on. Open your eyes.

[pause]

That’s it. Take a moment to regain your senses.

[pause]

You might’ve noticed that you’re tied up right now. I’m sure that’s a bit of a surprise for you. But you should really be more careful when you discuss revolutionary plans. You never know when the person sitting across from you is a royal informant.

[pause]

That’s right. The queen recruited me herself to work for her about a month ago. So now, I’ve brought you into the woods and tied you up to a tree where the queen’s guards will be taking you into their official custody. Oh, and while you were hypnotized, you also told me the names of your co conspirators, so they’ll also be arrested soon.

[pause]

Please. It’s no use begging. You should be happy you’re not dead. In fact, I think the queen has plans for you. If you’re lucky, you might get brainwashed, and the queen will let you keep your life in exchange for your complete obedience. If I were you, I’d be thankful. As for the people you conspired with, they’re not of interest to the queen, so I don't think they'll be as lucky as you, the mastermind behind the operation.

I’ll admit. Once I got you under my spell and you told me about your plan, I was impressed. It might’ve actually worked if you didn’t try to recruit me.

[pause]

Well, the guards will be here any moment. I suppose I’ll leave you alone in the forest with your thoughts now.

Farewell.