COVENTRY

The HEAD MISTRESS sits atop a huge oak desk beneath a stained-glass window. She’s sporting black-rimmed glasses and a sharp business suit, with silver hair pulled into a high, tight bun. A black-and-white CROW is perched in an iron cage nearby, blinking and cawing. YOU (PLAYER) Enter from LEFT with a nervous smile. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) Welcome to the Arcane College. I trust your journey was pleasant enough. So, tell me -- //why// are you here? ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) Well...you certainly don't waste any time. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) That's because there isn't any time to waste. I'll ask again…//WHY are you here?// [[I had a strange feeling]] [[Your invitation...]] [[You tell me.]]

''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) I...I had a strange feeling. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) You follow your //instincts//. That’s good. ''YOU'' Not when it comes to leftover cheesecake… ''HEAD MISTRESS'' ‘Instinct’ is another word for //intuition//. And tapping into it holds the first sparks of all Magic… ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) This is really happening. I thought it was all just a bad //dream//... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) For a witch, dreams can give warnings, reveal possible futures, and even offer clues to seemingly impossible puzzles. Which brings us back to you, and why you are here. //What did YOU dream?// [[It was just a silly dream...]] [[I can't believe I'm sharing this...]]

''YOU'' (HAPPY) Your invitation piqued my curiosity. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' You know what they say about curiosity and the cat… ''YOU'' I still have a few lives left, I reckon. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' And you’re going to need them, if you want to walk this path. ''YOU'' (SAD) I’m not sure what I want, to be honest. That’s always been my problem -- too much of a //dreamer//. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) Funny you should say that; it's one of the reasons we sent the invitation. This is about your //dreams//, my dear - you know what I'm talking about. [[Maybe...but I don't know YOU!]] [[Okay...but this will sound WEIRD.]]

''YOU'' (SHOCKED) You tell me. You sent the invitation, remember? And my mother taught me never to look a gift horse in the mouth... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) Indeed. I’m sure she taught you many things -- like the truth in your //dreams//, perhaps? ''YOU'' I...I sleep like the //dead//, thanks. Egyptian cotton. Thread-count to kill for. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' That’s not what the GRAND COVEN tells me, dear. They say you have the SIGHT. That your Mother had it, and your Grandmother had it. Which means that //you// have it, too. That's how it works. So cut the games...and tell me what you //saw//. [[And I thought Facebook privacy was bad!]] [[Fine! You really want to know what I saw?]]

''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) It was just a silly dream. Why does it even //matter// to you...? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (ANGRY) It matters whenever a great woman chooses to hide or play 'small'. ''YOU'' (SAD) I prefer //petite//. I saw your school. There was fire and chaos and...terrible things. I think you were there, or at least your //clothes// were. The faces were fuzzy. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) I do like to think of this as my ‘power suit’. Well then...I have one more question. It's easy. Multiple choice. Black Rose. Black Diamond. Or Black Stallion. Which one...and WHY? [[BLACK ROSE]] [[BLACK DIAMOND]] [[BLACK STALLION]]

''YOU'' (SHOCKED) Maybe...but I don't know YOU! ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) And yet you came anyway. ''YOU'' Who am I to pass up a free trip? And the whole 'witch' thing is cool, I guess. But I was expecting more 'herbal spa' and less 'creepy dream stalking'. Seriously -- why ask me anything if you already //know// the answers? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' Point taken. Then how about one I //don't// know the answer to? Think of it as a game... Black Rose, Black Diamond, or Black Stallion -- which one speaks to you, and WHY? [[BLACK ROSE]] [[BLACK DIAMOND]] [[BLACK STALLION]]

''YOU'' Okay...but this is going to sound WEIRD. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) Our founder barked at the moon and communed with worms. I've learned to take things in stride. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) Fine. There was a //storm//. But it wasn't normal. I'm talking 'green lightning, rain of fire, Old Testament' kinda stuff. And in the eye of it..? //Here//. Coventry! And then everything went dark... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) I see. ''YOU'' (SAD) DO you? Because you seem fine, but I've got chills just thinking about it. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' What I am is //curious// - like you. It's why I ask so many questions. Which brings us to my final one. It's simple -- just pick one of these three, and tell me why: [[WHITE LILY]] [[WHITE QUARTZ]] [[WHITE WOLF]]

''YOU'' (SHOCKED) And I thought my Facebook privacy was bad! ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (ANGRY) I get it! You’re scared and you’re skeptical. So drop the attitude, get a grip, and let us //help// you. ''YOU'' (ANGRY) Let me get this straight. I have nightmares about some freak school swallowed into a literal Hell...get //invited// to said school...and then you say YOU want to help ME? I'm thinking //you're// the ones that need the 'help'. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) This place gives back what it gets and then some. That's the first law of Magic, whether one believes it or not. I have a final question. A choice, actually. Which one of these three 'speaks' to you, and why? [[BLACK ROSE]] [[BLACK DIAMOND]] [[BLACK STALLION]]

''YOU'' (SHOCK) Fine! You really want to know what I saw? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) I do. ''YOU'' (SHOCK) Here! I saw HERE! It was like some //Pride and Prejudice// acid trip with all these freaks and monsters and it got worse every night and I thought I was going to lose my mind until... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' Until now. We're like you. More than you know. Each of us came to Conventry to learn WHO we are. And then, emboldened, to serve something greater. ''YOU'' (SAD) So...you think you're going to //teach// me who I am? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) You already know. I think she's just sleeping, and needs a nudge. White Lily. White Quartz. White Wolf -- pick one, and tell me why. [[WHITE LILY]] [[WHITE QUARTZ]] [[WHITE WOLF]]

''YOU'' (SHOCKED) I can't believe I'm sharing this. Are you sure you want to..? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' //Indulge// me. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) I was here. In COVENTRY! It was all creepy rooms and creepier people. Fighting and blood and...and something //awful//, waiting in the dark. I swear, I thought I was going CRAZY until… ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) You get used to 'crazy' being the norm here. Just wait 'til Old Bill asks you to read his //Macbeth// sequel -- he has a thing for witches. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) 'Old Bill'? As in THE Bill? As in William Sh... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' We'll get to that. But right now, I have one more question for you. Don't //think// about. Just use those instincts, and pick one of the following... [[WHITE LILY]] [[WHITE QUARTZ]] [[WHITE WOLF]]

''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) Well...I'd have to go with the BLACK ROSE. I read that they only grow in this one town in Turkey, and that gothy types buy them all up for these 'rituals', but that the roses are actually more //purple// than black, which triggers all these emo rants online... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) Thank you -- that's //more// than enough. I’d wager that you and Professor Skye will be spending a great deal of time outdoors. I suggest making arrangements with the cafeteria for breadcrumbs — the hedge maze can be a cruel mistress. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) Wait. Are you saying what I //think// you're saying..? [[ENDING 1]]

''YOU'' (HAPPY) My childhood bestie was a horse. When I researched Coventry, I pictured galloping in the countryside, and a notorious Lady's ride through the streets... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' Unlike Ms. Godiva's legendary glamours, you’ll find that we no longer have a 'clothing optional' policy, on horseback or otherwise. You'll find this outlined in the student handbook -- it's in your //welcome// package. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) You mean..? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' You'll begin study with MADAME FELINA. Finding your //familiar// — a witch's 'bestie', if you will - is crucial at this stage. They help with focus, and with taming the darkness within. ''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) Back to school..? But I'm still paying off my //first// student loans! [[ENDING 1]]

''YOU'' (HAPPY) What's that old chestnut about girls and DIAMONDS..? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' Black diamonds are //unique// crystals. Both natural and synthetic, they are vessels for mystic visions, and channels for the darker arts. ''YOU'' (HAPPY) Okay. Does that mean I //get// one? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' It means that, if you so choose, you will start your studies with LADY VOLTA -- Clairvoyance Class. I think we need to work on honing your //sight//. ''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) I'm 20/20, thanks. But before this goes any further, what these eyes need to see is the //bill//. [[ENDING 1]]

''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) Definitely the QUARTZ. My mother would slip pieces into my schoolbag before exams. It was her sly way of taking credit for the grades. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) It's the perfect stone for inducing a calm mind, and peak clairvoyance. ''YOU'' I was with you on the 'calm', but you lost me on that last bit... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) It means you’ll begin under LADY VOLTA. From crystal balls to lucid dreams, she will teach you how to harness your gifts. To see the //unseen//. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) Really? You're asking me to //stay//?! [[ENDING 2]]

''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) I used to dream of a WOLF when I was little. But they were never bad dreams. It was more like being watched over... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) A White Wolf symbolizes //courage// in the face of adversity. A light at the end of a very long tunnel. ''YOU'' (SAD) Sounds like 'life'. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) Perhaps that's about to change... I am putting you with MADAME FELINA to start. Summoning a //familiar// is top priority -- like finding a witch's long-lost friend. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) You mean... I'm going 'witch school'? [[ENDING 2]]

''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) The Arcane College is FREE and open to you. But there is still a //price//. You must commit to the path, and to your Sisters who walk it with you. ''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) That's it? I don't need to sign anything or…? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) We’ll take your word as bond for now. The blood oath comes later. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) ... ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) That was a joke. //Probably//. ''(DIRECTION — FRAZZLED, YOU EXIT LEFT)'' ''CROW'' (FLAPPING WINGS) //I smell pride, doubt, and a willful streak 'til Sunday... But at least she’s not boring.// ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) Indeed. But if the Coven is right about her dreams…? Then I pray she's a quick study. For //all// our sakes.

''HEAD MISTRESS'' (NEUTRAL) The Arcane College is yours, if you so choose it. The only 'fees' are your time, loyalty, and a willingness to fight by our side. ''YOU'' (NEUTRAL) Fight? Like, for witches' rights? Smash the patriarchy? That sorta thing? ''HEAD MISTRESS'' More like demons, and warlocks, and imps... ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) //Oh my.// ''HEAD MISTRESS'' First class at dawn, so get some rest. And whatever the sophomores say, do NOT use the upstairs microwave... We're still trying to lift the //curse// from it. ''(DIRECTION — CONFUSED, YOU EXIT LEFT)'' ''CROW'' //Beneath any crust she's sweet as summer corn, that one... I give her a week.// ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) Old friend...I will take that bet.

''YOU'' (SAD) If I //must// choose...then I pick the LILY. It was my mother's favourite. ''HEAD MISTRESS'' (HAPPY) A symbol of devotion, innocence, and the soul. A fine choice. (beat) I'm sure Professor Skye will be pleased to have your help in the hanging gardens. Her last protégé had a tragically brown thumb. ''YOU'' (SHOCKED) Is that it? Are you inviting me to..? [[ENDING 2]]