A Fantasy interpretation of Hamlet

By Andrew Bozek

This interpretation of Hamlet is set in the city of Menzoberranzan, a city far underground of the evil drow, ebon-skinnned and white haired elves. It is a Matriarchal society that worships Lloth, the Spider Queen. Menzoberranzan is ruled by aristocratic houses, this play deals with three of them, House Vandree, House Symryvvin, and House Barrison del'Armgo. Deception and murder are an acceptable way to advance in society personally or to further the status of one's house, as long as nobody sees these acts done or if they are done discreetly enough.
The Matron Mother Troken'ther of House Vandree has just acquired a new husband immediately after the death of her previous one. This new husband, Nadal, seems to have a lustful control over Troken'ther, and now dominates House Vandree. The first son of House Vandree, Relonor, has just returned from his ten years of martial training at the academy of Melee-Magthere to see this dire situation. One night while standing watch, his father appears to him as a ghost and tells Relonor that he was murdered by Nadal, rather than being sacrificed to Lloth. This enrages Relonor, but he also starts to form plans of domination of House Vandree in the back of his mind along with the vengeance of his father's death.

(At the gates of House Vandree)

Hesken: Guards of Vandree, I have come to confer with Troken'ther and her males Nadal and the first son Relonor. Bring this tiding to Troken'ther with great speed, and won't be compelled to summon great fiends upon you.
Guard 1: This message will be treated as the word of Lloth herself. (Guard 1 departs)
Hesken: My thanks, male
(Hesken is admitted into the Vandree compound, on the way to the main house, she talks with Relonor, who comes to meet her at the gate.)
Relonor: Good Hesken, why do you stride so boldly up to the compound you contend for?
Hesken: I only contend for you, sweet Relonor. The compound that comes with such a fine package is a burden born for your affection.
Relonor: (To himself) A burden that will be well endured I'll wager.
Hesken: See me outside Symryvvin at the change of the guards, from there I shall escort you to my private chambers.
Relonor: I will, Matron Symryvvin.

(Exeunt)

(In Troken'ther's chambers, later that day)
Guldor: Good Matron, through my scrying magic, I happened upon a conversation between Relonor and...(Troken'ther hears Relonor's approaching footsteps)
Troken'ther: Conceal yourself behind that drapery for Relonor approaches.
Relonor: Matron Mother, this is fortunate, for I wish to speak with you privately (To himself) about as private as present other company shall warrant, but that shall soon be remedied. (To Troken'ther) I have news of my father's death. He appeared to me, and is probably still watching as an ethereal being from beyond the grave.
Troken'ther: You speak of nonsense and madness young fool! Males cannot escape Lloth's realm by their own hand after sacrifice.
Relonor: But he was not sacrificed as Lloth dictates! (Guldor gasps) Oh foul intention! Spies from rival houses pry upon our conversation in the matron's chambers! (Sword drawn, rapier through drapery and kills Guldor) Payment in full! (To himself) and an advance in my plot, my father's vengeance, and the exhilaration of the kill. ( Back to Troken'ther) Matron Mother, I did not know, oh why was this poor fool here, haste brings about dismay and I am the perpetrator. I shall leave and conceal the body. Please do not tell Nadal any mention of this, for he admired Guldor.
(Exit Relonor and enter Nadal)
Nadal: What has passed in this chamber?
Troken'ther: Guldor is slain by Relonor's hand.
Nadal: Tis time to call the hounds upon the fox. I shall send for Berg'inyon and Calimar, old sparring mates of his to intercept his course, most expectedly to Symryvvin. Send a tiding of this to Sorn, son of Guldor Symryvvin.
(Troken'ther kneels before a brazier and prays to Lloth for the power of a mind message.)

(At the Symryvvin Compound.)
Sorn: Dead? Then Relonor furthers his plans of domination, tis time to block his entrance to Symryvvin through the death of my dear sister, Hesken P'aj.
(Sorn smothers his sister in her sleep and then deposits the body in the only lake in Menzoberranzan.)

(In a dark alley of stalagtites on the way to House Symryvvin from House Vandree.)
Relonor: It is time to seal the pact between Hesken and me, and to seal the fate of House Symryvvin. (Relonor hears some arcane muttering.)
Relonor: Who goes there, and why do you cast magic upon a lone drow?
Berg'inyon: It is I Relonor, your sparring partner from the Academy.
Relonor: But you do not command the arcane arts.
Berg'inyon: Why do you speak of such?
Relonor: (To himself) Where Berg'inyon is, Calimar is usually not far, that mage is probably involved with Berg'inyon in a plot devised by Nadal for my undoing.
(A battle ensues as Calimar the mage emreges from a stalactite while levittating. Relonor dodges Berg'inyon's sword thrusts and Calimar's firebolts. Relonor then casts two arrows of death(blue lightning-like arrows) that kill both Berg'inyon and Calimar without leaving any marks.)
Relonor: Pitiful, they would have been great allies in my schemes of dominance. A fine job of slaying these two though, no mark of the hand or the method. This incident marks that my entrance to House Symryvvin would be a treacherous one, if Hesken still lives. I shall seek such tidings at Vandree.

(At the funeral of Matron Mother Hesken P'aj Symryvvin.)
Priestess 1: I have heard that Matron Mother Hesken P'aj was slain by her own servant brother. If this is so, the living brother should be burned with the dead matron.
Priestess 2: Aye, but that makes no difference with both houses Symryvvin and Vandree being in the favor of Lloth. We are just common drow, do not get involved in house intrigues. Let us prepare the dais.
Relonor: Why do you go about such a sanctified ceremony with gossip and such casualness, Lloth should strip you of your priestly powers this very instant!
Priestesses: Aye my lord, first son of House Vandree.
Relonor: Get about your business. (Looks at the dead bodies of two sparring partners) Ah, poor Berg'inyon and Calimar, but such is the payment of death to promised death. The world we live in is cruel and prosperous, especially to the methodical vengeance-seekers with power as a bait. Such I am, and so will Nadal and Sorn be to Berg'inyon and Calimar. Soon I shall have both Vandree and Symryvvin in my hands with my mother culled to obey me after the blood bath that will directly follow this solemn ceremony. Dear Hesken, what a sight to a young drow just departing the academy, but nothing more since her usefulness was terminated by the loathsome Sorn of Symryvvin and guided perchance by the common drow, Nadal, now the only patron in Menzoberranzan to hold any power. That shall soon change. But peace, they do come.
(Enter Nadal, Sorn, and Ryld.)
Ryld: Relonor, both Nadal and Sorn seem ready to be provoked to a challenge, may I recommend to work your sacrilege?
Relonor: I shall, good friend Ryld, I shall. I wish to thank you for your trustworthiness and promise payment in full when I assume power of the houses.
Ryld: My thanks to you, Lord Relonor.
(Relonor disrupts Hesken's service by insulting Sorn openly with neglecting to perform the rites of respect to the family of the deceased. Sorn is already bent on killing him.)
Sorn: Your insolence will not go unchecked Relonor! I commit you to a duel to sate my sister's honor which you have vandalized. This I bind to you in the name of Lloth.
Nadal: I second this proclamation and do assume power of judge and intermediator. Let these priestesses be our witnesses that we should uphold the word of Lloth, and may the victor send the loser to the infernal pits of torture within the Abyss, lair of Lloth, by his own hand with dagger sacrificial.
(Service is adjourned. Exeunt)

(At the compound of house Vandree.)

(The scene is carried out just as the last fight scene is in Hamlet, but Relonor;s blade is poisoned too. Sorn gets struck first, the poison is slower than the kind on Sorn's sword, so he strikes Relonor too. Troken'ther drinks the poisoned wine in toast to Relonor for the first hit. Sorn dies just as Relonor slays Nadal with the poisoned sword and then all but Relonor are dead.)
Relonor: I am to die Ryld. My power is apprehended then lost again. With all powerful figures of Vandree and Symryvvin dead, Barrison del'Armgo is most probably on the move even now, summoning priestesses, mages, soldiers, and fiends to take the houses. I leave you the power of both houses. You may become influential in the newly expanded house of Barrison del'Armgo, second only to the female that will rule these self-conquered families. Take my forces and surrender. I now die.
Ryld: Good Relonor, may you be favored while in Lloth's domain and find the power you craved in this life. Good night sweet prince, may hordes of fiends escort you to your Abyssal throne.

(Exeunt)

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