Episode 16: Theory of Truth

[SCENE 1: HISTORY CLASSROOM]

[We hear a lot of chatter from the students in the class. It’s like, really rambunctious. Like even beyond what you'd expect from 30 unsupervised 16-year-olds.]

JENNA: This is weird, right?

ELLIE: I mean, given everything that happened, it was gonna be weird anyway, right? Like “Hi Dr. Sumner! I read those chapters you assigned. Also I found out you wiped my memory!” O. M. G. do you think they fired him for that?

JENNA: If they’d fired him, someone would have thought to find a sub, or just cancel class.

ELLIE: I guess…

JENNA: Should we tell someone?

ELLIE: Maybe? I don’t know, people seem to be having fun.

RANDOM STUDENT: Go long!

[Another student, trying to catch a ball, stumbles over Leonard’s desk.]

RANDOM STUDENT: Oh, c’mon! That was an easy one!

JENNA: So, I was thinking. Do you want to see if we can get a pass into town this weekend? Maybe you can help me pick out a dress for the dance?

ELLIE: Um, I thought you said you didn’t wanna go.

JENNA: You wanna go, and I… care about you, so-

ELLIE: Well I’m not sure I do now. After Dylan-

JENNA: After Dylan, what you need is to dress up, look really pretty, dance with a bunch of boys, and get him out of your head. Plus you were right. With all this intense stuff happening, we need some fun.

[door opening]

KATYA: What is happening here?

[the class quiets down]

KATYA: Donovan! Explain! Please.

JENNA: I don’t know what to explain. Mr. Sumner never showed up for class.

KATYA: That is… very unusual. Hmmm. I can’t stay here and keep order. I have my own class to teach. I just came over because of all the noise. Don’t you all have homework or reading you could be doing?

ELLIE: Not really? We’d actually just finished up a unit. We were supposed to start a new one today.

KATYA: Alright.... everyone is dismissed. Back to your dorms, quietly. Please try not to disrupt any other students or there will be detentions. Unpleasant ones.

[Electromancy main theme plays]

CREDITS: Electromancy, Episode 16 - Theory of Truth

[SCENE 2: BRUCE’S OFFICE]

MARINA: How can he be gone? We had people watching him, magically and physically.

BRUCE: I have no idea how he left his apartment without the guard seeing. The guard was deaf, that’s standard practice with sonomancers, so he was immune to sonic compulsion.

MARINA: So he had his pet umbramancer sneak him out. Let’s bring her in.

BRUCE: That was my first thought. But I’m not entirely sure. The photomancy tower is on the other side of the campus, and Professor Rosario swears she couldn’t have gotten past her new security measures-

MARINA: She underestimates her. You all underestimate her- photomancy and umbramancy is a potent combination. It’s like no one remembers Drameus of Tolgara.

BRUCE: Of course people remember Drameus, that biopic where he’s played by Ricardo Solis only came out what, three years ago? I think the hope of another Drameus is the reason Brynn’s still a student here.

MARINA: Which is dangerous thinking, and if she is wrapped up in this, I’m putting an end to it.

BRUCE: Eh, you can try. The Dean’s got a soft spot for the girl, for all his posturing.

MARINA: It may not be up to him.

BRUCE: It may not have been Tessek. Don’t forget that collection of scrolls in his office-

MARINA: Which we confiscated.

BRUCE: Well, what if itt wasn’t all of them?

MARINA: We searched his apartment. And when would he have had time to retrieve them from anywhere else?

BRUCE: He’s resourceful, I’ll give him that.

MARINA: Do we know he’s not still on campus?

BRUCE: Seers can’t detect him here.

MARINA: Seers can’t detect him anywhere, so that means nothing. He’s being shrouded.

BRUCE: That age old problem with magic - the other side also has it.

MARINA: Yes, but we’re Oswer! We should have better magic. Have the girl taken into custody now. Let’s not risk her disappearing on us too. If Ventrassi objects I’m overruling him. This is a national security matter now.

Anyway, if what I heard about her and Lord Lancook’s son is true, she may not be able to wiggle out of any consequences this time.

BRUCE: I’ll go get her myself.

MARINA: I’ll have a little chat with the Dean.

[SCENE 3: THE PAZIK COURT]

[We hear what sounds like a basketball dribbling, along with some pyromancy and electromancy sounds.]

DYLAN: Boom! And that’s how we do it in the Pyromancers. Who’s the man? Dylan’s the man!

LUCAS: Lucky shot.

DYLAN: That’s three in a row I’ve gotten over on you, Lucas. At some point it stops being luck.

LUCAS: Let’s take five.

DYLAN: Sure.

LUCAS: Water?

[we hear Dylan gulping down some water.]

DYLAN: You’re off your game today.

LUCAS: Well, I got a lot on my mind.

DYLAN: This is how I clear my mind. I leave it all out there. When I’m on the court, I focus on the game.

LUCAS: That’s great for you.

DYLAN: So what’s got you so out of sorts? Girl trouble? Boy trouble? I know you’re, uh, flexible in that area.

LUCAS: Maybe a little of that. But also I’ve got all these detentions to do-

DYLAN: Yeah, but they let up on you guys a little. I heard Bruce wanted to make it every Saturday for the rest of the semester.

LUCAS: Yeah, luckily Ms. Harper talked him down. But it’s still two evenings a week. I’m missing a ton of practice.

DYLAN: You’re lucky they didn’t kick all of you off the team.

LUCAS: They wanted to, our coaches all objected.

DYLAN: I don’t think you’re upset about missing practice.

LUCAS: That’s part of it.

DYLAN: What’s the rest of it?

LUCAS: What are you, my therapist?

DYLAN: I’m your friend, dude.

LUCAS: There is someone. I can’t get my mind off- but they’re, uh, not my regular type. I don’t even know why I keep thinking about them.

DYLAN: It’s not Jenna is it?

LUCAS: What? No.

DYLAN: That’s good. Didn’t want you and me to be in competition.

LUCAS: You still going after her? I thought she shot you down.

DYLAN: She did, but I chose to look at it as more of a “not right now” and less of a “never”. I’m playing the long game.

LUCAS: What about that other girl I saw you with? The freshman, the oramancer - Emma something?

DYLAN: No rule saying I can’t play a few shorter games while I wait for the long game to really get going.

LUCAS: What about Ellie?

DYLAN: Ellie’s a peach. But you don’t date a girl and then date her best friend right after. That’s a major foul. So until Jenna gives me a real “no”, Ellie’s not happening.

LUCAS: That seems a little… I dunno. Calculating.

DYLAN: How the game is played, my man.

LUCAS: Well it’s not how I play it. I see someone I want, I just go for it. No games. [beat.] Usually.

DYLAN: So why’s this person different?

LUCAS: I don’t know. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.

[SCENE 4: A HALLWAY]

COLLINS: Donovan! Ms. Donovan!

JENNA: ...hi, Mr. Collins.

COLLINS: Glad I caught you. I was going to have Ms. Harper speak to you. Would you like to schedule a redo? Of your audition? Or just the sight-reading portion, the rest was fine.

JENNA: What? You didn’t seem very open to that. Before.

COLLINS: Well, after Ms. Tessek came forward and admitted to sabotaging your performance-

JENNA: She what?

COLLINS: Exactly what you suspected, I’m afraid. Anyway, the woodwind section has been a little thin, and with the end-of-term concert coming up, I thought- we can get her up to speed in time. If you’re still interested, that is.

JENNA: Uh… sure.

COLLINS: Could you do Thursday after fourth period?

JENNA: Yeah, that’s fine.

COLLINS: Very good, see you then.

[footsteps]

DEVON: *tel* Brynn.

BRYNN: *tel* Devon? Where are you?

DEVON: *tel* My locker, about 30 feet away from your classroom. Bruce is waiting outside the door. Thought you’d want to know.

BRYNN: *tel* Devon, thanks. I’m… can anyone see you right now?

DEVON: *tel* It’s a hallway. Lots of people can see me.

BRYNN: *tel* Duck into a classroom. I gotta vanish you. When Bruce takes me, follow us, but keep your distance. Stay just outside the room when they question me.

DEVON: *tel* Brynn, I can’t jam the Dean. He’s like a 10. He’ll know.

BRYNN: *tel* You gotta try, Devon. Leonard’s counting on us.

DEVON: *tel* What do you think is gonna happen if he feels his scan being interfered with? He could hop into my mind!

BRYNN: *tel* It works like that?

DEVON: *tel* I don’t know, I’ve had zero training!

BRUCE: Tessek, I’m going to need you to come with me. Just need you to answer a few questions.

BRYNN: Of course Mr. McCray. Actually I was just coming to see you. Lots of interesting subversive activity to report.

BRUCE: Uh huh. Sure you were. Amy, you wanna-

ROSARIO: Of course.

*photomancy sounds*

BRYNN: See? No decoys. Just little old me.

BRUCE: Hmmmph. You’re up to something. You’re not fooling anyone. And you certainly won’t be fooling the Dean. C’mon.

ROSARIO: I should come along as well. You’ll need a photomancer to get anything out of this one. Plus I’ve gotten pretty good at spotting her tricks over the years.

BRYNN: *tel* Devon, Professor Rosario can reveal you any time she wants. I know you’re invisible, but you gotta stay out of sight anyway.

DEVON: *tel* It’s hard enough just to navigate this hallway without bumping into anyone and causing a scene.

[we get some footsteps, hallway chatter and ominous music]

BRUCE: Between the Investigator’s truth compulsion, the Dean’s psychomancy, and Professor Rosario’s photomancy, don’t think you’ll be able to hide anything from us, Tessek.

BRYNN: I’m telling you, I’ve got nothing to hide! I want to come clean. I’m turning over a new leaf. I told the truth to Mr. Collins-

ROSARIO: Save it for the Dean, Brynn.

DEVON: *tel* Brynn, what am I supposed to do?

BRYNN: *tel* I’m going to tell the truth Devon. Just not all of it. If the Dean is only looking in my mind to verify that what I’m saying is true, you can let him do that. I just need you to stop him from digging any deeper. From looking into what I’m Not saying. I know you can do this.

DEVON: *tel* I don’t know if I can. Or if I should-

BRYNN: *tel* Don’t you dare leave me hanging, Devon!

[SCENE 5: ELECTROMANCY DORM]

[We hear the clarinet again, just playing scales. Exercises. That sort of thing.]

PEM: The salpinette is back.

JENNA: Oh, sorry Pem. I thought you were still in class.

PEM: It’s okay. Just haven’t seen you play it in a while.

JENNA: Well, I might be joining the orchestra after all. Apparently Brynn came clean.

PEM: Really?

JENNA: Yeah. I still think she’s playing some kind of angle, but…

PEM: But?

JENNA: There’s something I haven’t told you about, Pem. Or Ellie, or anyone else really. I’m not sure if I can. I’m not sure if I should, but- I need a photomancer. To break a magical encryption on something, and if I can’t trust that person to keep their mouth shut about what they find, it could - really endanger me, and maybe other people.

PEM: We shouldn’t talk about this here.

JENNA: Where is safe to talk about this stuff?

PEM: No where, really, but definitely not here.

JENNA: Pem, you’ve been friends with Brynn for a long time. Can I trust her?

PEM: No. I mean, maybe? She’s loyal sometimes and she’s tricky sometimes. I’d have to know more about what you’re thinking about trusting her with, and frankly, I don’t even want to know as much as I already know. You know?

JENNA: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you into something without asking you first.

PEM: It’s okay. I have… suspicions about you. And I’ve been intentionally avoiding confirming them. But if what I think is true is true- I don’t judge you for it. And I would never turn you in, unless, well, unless I didn’t have a choice, then-

JENNA: Yeha, believe me, I get that. I need to take a chance on Brynn. And I need to tell you and Ellie some stuff. And I think anything Brynn knows, there’s no point in keeping it from Devon-

PEM: Well Devon you can definitely trust. He’s incredible at keeping secrets.

JENNA: Okay…

PEM: I- didn’t- forget I said that okay? Um, if Devon has any secrets he’ll tell them to you when he wants to. But… well, okay if we really wanted to talk privately, we’d need to get away from the school.

JENNA: How would we do that?

PEM: Well, weren’t you saying you need a dress for the dance?

[SCENE 6: THE DEAN’S OFFICE]

[we hear the Dean’s theme and the signature ticking clock of his office]

DEAN: Ms. Tessek. Please, have a seat.

BRYNN: Dean Ventrassi. Been a while since I’ve been in this office.

DEAN: By your standards I suppose it has. You’ve been causing less chaos than usual this term.

BRYNN: In my defense, there was a lot of chaos happening without me. Also, just in case it hasn’t gotten around to you, when I was in the past I got interrogated by General Norris. AKA, the legendary first commander of the magecorps. So I’m not really scared by any of this.

DEAN: Scared? My girl, why would I want you to be scared? I’m the Dean of students, I’m here for you. I would hope the students aren’t scared of me.

MARINA: I, on the other hand, am here to secure this school against all threats to the empire, foreign and domestic, so you are very much allowed and encouraged to be scared of me. [chanting] veticar mutika delasis [compulsion voice] Tell the Truth.

BRYNN: There’s no need for that, I have every intention of telling the truth.

DEAN: Very good then. Let’s start with what you were doing in the tunnels the night that the monster was banished.

BRYNN: I was helping Leonard. He needed me to hide him from you.

BRUCE: Did he say why he needed to be hidden?

BRYNN: He said that if he told you how to stop the creature, he’d have to reveal how he knew that, and that would look really bad.

MARINA: Did Leonard Sumner summon the creature?

BRYNN: Yes.

MARINA: Did he tell you why?

BRYNN: He’s working for the Northern Coalition.

MARINA: I knew it.

DEAN: Hold on a moment, Marina. Let me just -

[We hear part of Brynn and Leonard’s conversation from the previous episode, but it's distorted to the point of being almost incomprehensible]

DEAN: Where were you last night, Brynn?

BRYNN: The magic testing room.

DEAN: Why?

BRYNN: Leonard wanted to recruit me.

DEAN: Why didn’t you tell us this immediately?

BRYNN: It’s only been a few hours. I was going to come see you after lunch.

MARINA: That’s not an answer to his question.

BRYNN: Leonard’s been really cool to me. Turning him in wasn’t an easy decision.

BRUCE: Why should we believe you? You’ve never seemed like a loyal Oswerian before.

BRYNN: I’m under a truth compulsion, in a room with a powerful telepath. How would I lie? But besides that, there’s a big difference between causing trouble because you don’t agree with how the school is run and joining an actual terrorist group.

MARINA: But you were tempted by his offer?

BRYNN: Of course I was. I trusted him. He’s been setting me up for this for months. But ultimately I decided it was best if I turned him in.

[we hear the Dean trying to read Brynn’s mind and failing to get anything substantive again.]

DEAN: You know I’m under not-insignificant pressure to have you removed from this school?

BRYNN: Devon mentioned his dad was pissed, and I know he’s got you by the balls.

DEAN: Ms. Tessek, show some decorum!

BRYNN: Hey, you put me under a truth spell, don’t get mad if I spout some truth. Are we done here?

MARINA: Just one more question. Did you help Professor Sumner escape the campus?

BRYNN: Leonard’s gone?

MARINA: You didn’t know?

BRYNN: Guess I have some more time to finish that history paper.

MARINA: Did you help him escape?

BRYNN: If I had helped him escape, do you really think I would have come here and submitted myself to your questioning?

MARINA: Yes or no.

BRYNN: How could I have helped him escape if I didn’t even know he was planning to?

MARINA: Yes. Or. No.

BRYNN: I didn’t help him leave the school.

MARINA: I’m satisfied, if you are.

DEAN: We’ll likely have further questions for you later. But you may go. For now.

[beat]

BRYNN: *tel* Well done.

DEVON: *tel* You owe me. Big time.

BRYNN: *tel* Of course.

DEVON: *tel* I mean it, Brynn. You really forced my hand. Didn’t really give me a choice.

BRYNN: *tel* I’m sorry I didn’t have time to talk to you sooner.

DEVON: *tel* So how’d you do it? How’d you beat the truth compulsion?

BRYNN: *tel* I didn’t. Everything I said was true.

DEVON: *tel* Wait, you didn’t help him escape?

BRYNN: *tel* I said I didn’t help him leave the school. I didn’t. They didn’t ask me if I helped him leave his apartment.

[SCENE 7: ELECTROMANCY DORM]

KATYA: This is a terrible time to be asking me for this.

PEM: We’re not on lockdown anymore.

KATYA: True, but four of the five people you’re asking about still have a few weekly detentions left.

JENNA: We figured we could go Sunday?

KATYA: Even under normal circumstances, Tessek and Lancook would have to get permission from the head’s of their own aspects, so you’d need to talk to Professor Rosario and Professor Lang, and the chances of Amy Rosario letting Tessek out of her sight are, frankly, astronomical. Maybe, with a chaperone-

JENNA: Okay, well, what about just us then. We’re not really on thin ice, are we? You were trying to get us out of detention-

KATYA: Just you. Lucas and Ellie actually broke curfew, they deserve the punishment. You were only out because you were trying to stop them. But anyway I was overruled on that. I suspect your zapping of the Magecorps investigator may have played a part there, by the way.

JENNA: Okay, yeah, not my smartest move. Look, Ms. Harper, Ellie is having a really hard time. Between me disappearing, and the- I don’t know if Mr. McCray told you, the memory thing- and-

PEM: And getting rejected by her crush.

JENNA: I don’t know if we needed to share that detail, Pem.

PEM: It’s relevant! I really think a shopping trip to the city would lift her spirits.

KATYA: Ah, to be young and in love. I can’t say I miss it. Everything is so dramatic when you’re 16. I suppose I can sympathize. But why Tessek? I thought you two still hated each other.

JENNA: Well, being trapped in the past together for two days might have… thawed that out a little. We’re coming to an understanding. Anyway, Dr. Sumner was her favorite teacher, so I feel like she could use some cheering up too.

KATYA: Hmm. Yes, and of course she and that cryomancer are a package deal. Well. It’s nice to see you two burying the hatchet. Having to work with people you don’t necessarily get along with is an important part of growing up. I don’t know though. Your timing is very bad. I’ll talk to the higher-ups and see what I can do. I don’t think a trip to the city unsupervised is something I’ll be able to swing though. Maybe I’ll go with you? I could use a dress for chaperoning the dance. Assuming it's still happening.

PEM: You think they might cancel it?

KATYA: I hope not. It’s good for the students to have a chance to let loose every now and then, and I think we need that more than ever. But, you know- that Investigator is still stalking around making everyone nervous. Best not to take anything for granted.

JENNA: So, you’ll talk to Rosario and Lang? See what you can do?

KATYA: That’s all I can promise. I’ll see what I can do.

[she exits]

PEM: So, not the time away for secret plotting we were hoping for.

JENNA: Well, it could still be fun? Or maybe super weird and awkward. I guess we’ll find out.

[Gossip Grooving plays]

CREDITS: Electromancy is written, produced and directed by Nathan Comstock. This episode was sound designed by Nathan Comstock and Austin Cruzen with music by Thomas Dwyer. It starred Azul Nova as Jenna, Austin Hendricks as Ellie, Sena Bryer as Pem, Leslie Gideon as Brynn, Tuesday Orion Ibert as Devon, Joe Kearney as Bruce, Deja Scott as Marina, Kira Apple as Katya Harper, Zachary Robb as Dr. Sumner, Karim Kronfli as Dean Ventrassi, Chris Magilton as Dylan, Aubrey Poppleton as Lucas, Hedley Knights as Mr. Collins, and Emma Puranen as Professor Rosario. Thanks for joining us again for season 2, and thanks to everyone who contributed to our crowdfunding campaign to make this show happen. This episode, we’d like to offer a special thanks to Christopher Couste. Thanks for believing in us Christopher! You can find out more about us at www.electromancypod.com. We’ll be back with another episode in 2 weeks, and stay tuned for a trailer for another show you’ll love, after the tag.

[SCENE 8: A MYSTERIOUS PLACE]

SYLVIA: Do you have it?

LEONARD: Of course I have it. This had better be worth my career.

SYLVIA: You’ll have a fabulous career in Kalar once we can smuggle you out of Osweria. Could be a little while before we can pull that off though.

LEONARD: And until then? I just live with you here in your… abandoned apartment complex?

SYLVIA: We’ll make it nice and cozy for you. Alandra, there you are.

ALANDRA: I still don’t think it was worth giving up our man on the inside.

SYLVIA: You’re serious? You’ve talked of nothing but getting your hands on this book for months now. I know everything didn’t go completely to plan, but-

ALANDRA: I’m concerned that to obtain this information, we might have given up our ability to actually act on it, that’s all.

SYLVIA: That’s a risk we planned for.

LEONARD: Is someone going to clue me into exactly what it is I just stole?

ALANDRA: Something without which toppling Oswer would be literally impossible. But… that doesn’t mean it's going to be easy with it...

PROMO:

[EXT. THE FROLIC, THE SEA IS CALM AND GENTLE. THE RIGGING IS CREAKING]

BOATER: (calling across from the Fortune) Lines secured!

SAILOR 1: Cheers Boater! (calling to rest of sailors) Lines secured!

[THE SAILS FLAP AS THE TWO SHIPS SAIL APART FROM EACH OTHER. CHEERFUL

MUSIC BEGINS]

SAILOR 2: (pleased) Look at the size of that beast…

SAILOR 1: Aye, it’s a good haul.

SAILOR 2: Oh we’ll celebrate at the Gleaming Eel when we get back.

SAILOR 1: Shoaling Day’s coming up. It’ll be good and busy.

SAILOR 2: I’ll see you there then?

SAILOR 1: Aye. You still owe me from from last time.

SAILOR 2: No, I paid last Hronnsday, remember I…

[A BELL RINGS, INTERRUPTING THEM. FIRST SLOW, THEN FAST, THEN FRANTICALLY]

SAILOR 1: Another one?

SAILOR 2: Must be….wait…what in Unn’s name is that??

[THUNDERCLAP]

[EALD BYCATCH EMERGES FROM THE WATER, ROARING]

[SOUNDS OF HORRIFIC FISH VIOLENCE AND SOME SCREAMING]

[CUT TO POST ROLL INFORMATION, MUSIC]

V/O: Eeler’s Choice is an upcoming dark fantasy maritime podcast, coming this autumn, created

by Lou Sutcliffe and Daisy McNamara. The unlucky sailors were Tal Minear, Meg Moloy Tuten

and Pacific S. Obadiah. Editing was by Daisy McNamara and music and sound design by Lou

Sutcliffe, using sounds from Freesound.org. Follow us on social media @eelerschoice if you

choose, but be warned; the ocean never gives back what it takes unchanged.