Tripd v The Dragon synopsis
Apr. 27th, 2010 10:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
usernamenumberI've posted before about what a great time I had seeing Tripod perform their D&D folk-opera, "Tripod vs The Dragon" at MassMOCA several months ago. When the soundtrack came out, I was really excited, but realized that one of the problematic strengths/weaknesses of the show is that it actually has a good story, but said story is not well-conveyed by the music alone (they've confirmed that a DVD will happen eventually, and I'm looking forward to that). So, I sent them a message on FB saying that I think people who didn't get to see the show live would enjoy the soundtrack more if the songs had context by way of a synopsis. ...and then they wrote one and sent it to me. :)
So, without further ado, a synopsis of TvD lies below the cut. Also, the soundtrack is currently setting for a measly $7 on Amazon's MP3 store.
For those who bought the cast recording but haven't seen the show, here's an outline of the plot of Tripod versus the Dragon:
A game of Dungeons and Dragons is about to begin. Scod and Yon, seasoned Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts, have brought along their friend Gatesy, a skeptical D&D initiate. The Dungeon Master, Elana, starts with prologue: It is The Dawn of Time. A beautiful tree grows. All is well. Two mysterious men arrive and tear a branch from the tree. Blood from the wound drips onto the ground and from this a Dragon is Born.
Much, much later, Gatesy, the fighter who'd rather be a bard, is busking in the town square. Unnoticed, Someone places a map in his lute case. Yon, the priest, notices that there is a gap in the map. Scod, the wizard, galvanizes the other two into going on a quest to fill in the missing piece of map:
The Smell of Adventure
The men encounter an orc, and completely pulverize it. Gatesy stares at the puddle that was once an orc:
Taking the Life
That night Gatesy is performing at an open mic night in a nearby tavern. A beautiful woman dressed in red is on after him. She sings:
Ivory Tower
She goes on to explain to Gatesy in plain english that she is a Dragon charged with protecting the Tree in the gap in the map. Gatesy, blinded by love, does not hear these important words. He asks her to go with him and play music together. Before she can answer, Yon uses his priestly guilt-tripping abilities to persuade Gatesy to continue on the quest. Gatesy promises to the lady that he will see her again.
Back on the road, the trio are soon separated. Scod, now alone, encounters two mysterious men - the Twin Wizards - who give him the Spear of Knowledge: the only weapon that will slay the dragon.
Meanwhile, alone, the Dragon laments her predicament:
On Paper
The adventurers are reunited. The Spear guides them across an ocean. During the voyage, Gatesy works on a new love song:
Gelatinous Love
A supernatural storm throws the men onto an uncharted beach. They soon realise that this is the place they have been looking for. The Dragon, in all its monstrous, fire-breathing glory, appears. Scod steps forward with the Spear. He instantly steps back again in fear, thrusting the spear into Gatesy's hands. Gatesy doesn't want to take any more life - he is a Bard. Scod tells Gatesy that killing the Dragon is the only way he will see his love again. As Gatesy spears the Dragon, it transforms back into the woman. Gatesy is desolate. Time passes.
Gatesy sits alone in his misery, singing to himself. The woman, in ghostly form, appears to him:
Don't Feel Bad
Having been party to the killing of the Dragon, Scod is enjoying having risen many levels of wizard-dom. Yon gives Scod an enormous guilt trip about using Gatesy to kill the Dragon. Scod makes a decision.
Gatesy awakes to Yonny's cries. Scod is gone, and has left a letter. It contains an
apology and a map showing Gatesy how he might get to the Underworld and try to retrieve his paramour. Gatesy sets off on his journey to Hades.
Meanwhile, Scod confronts the Twin Wizards. Yon soon joins him in the fight. The Wizards seem close to victory when Yon has an idea. He uses his priestly powers to break the Spear of Knowledge. Using a piece of the Spear each, Yon and Scod defeat the Wizards, restoring the Tree of Knowledge to it's former beauty.
Gatesy arrives in Hades. He must sing a worthy song in order to win back his love:
Heart of a Fighter
He fails. Hades pronounces him Not a Bard. With some encouragement and musical assistance from the Dragon/Woman, he tries again:
I Will Still Play
Success. Gatesy and the Dragon are free to go. As they leave, they meet an Orc!
A car horn sounds. It is time to finish the game:
Bard
The end
So, without further ado, a synopsis of TvD lies below the cut. Also, the soundtrack is currently setting for a measly $7 on Amazon's MP3 store.
For those who bought the cast recording but haven't seen the show, here's an outline of the plot of Tripod versus the Dragon:
A game of Dungeons and Dragons is about to begin. Scod and Yon, seasoned Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts, have brought along their friend Gatesy, a skeptical D&D initiate. The Dungeon Master, Elana, starts with prologue: It is The Dawn of Time. A beautiful tree grows. All is well. Two mysterious men arrive and tear a branch from the tree. Blood from the wound drips onto the ground and from this a Dragon is Born.
Much, much later, Gatesy, the fighter who'd rather be a bard, is busking in the town square. Unnoticed, Someone places a map in his lute case. Yon, the priest, notices that there is a gap in the map. Scod, the wizard, galvanizes the other two into going on a quest to fill in the missing piece of map:
The Smell of Adventure
The men encounter an orc, and completely pulverize it. Gatesy stares at the puddle that was once an orc:
Taking the Life
That night Gatesy is performing at an open mic night in a nearby tavern. A beautiful woman dressed in red is on after him. She sings:
Ivory Tower
She goes on to explain to Gatesy in plain english that she is a Dragon charged with protecting the Tree in the gap in the map. Gatesy, blinded by love, does not hear these important words. He asks her to go with him and play music together. Before she can answer, Yon uses his priestly guilt-tripping abilities to persuade Gatesy to continue on the quest. Gatesy promises to the lady that he will see her again.
Back on the road, the trio are soon separated. Scod, now alone, encounters two mysterious men - the Twin Wizards - who give him the Spear of Knowledge: the only weapon that will slay the dragon.
Meanwhile, alone, the Dragon laments her predicament:
On Paper
The adventurers are reunited. The Spear guides them across an ocean. During the voyage, Gatesy works on a new love song:
Gelatinous Love
A supernatural storm throws the men onto an uncharted beach. They soon realise that this is the place they have been looking for. The Dragon, in all its monstrous, fire-breathing glory, appears. Scod steps forward with the Spear. He instantly steps back again in fear, thrusting the spear into Gatesy's hands. Gatesy doesn't want to take any more life - he is a Bard. Scod tells Gatesy that killing the Dragon is the only way he will see his love again. As Gatesy spears the Dragon, it transforms back into the woman. Gatesy is desolate. Time passes.
Gatesy sits alone in his misery, singing to himself. The woman, in ghostly form, appears to him:
Don't Feel Bad
Having been party to the killing of the Dragon, Scod is enjoying having risen many levels of wizard-dom. Yon gives Scod an enormous guilt trip about using Gatesy to kill the Dragon. Scod makes a decision.
Gatesy awakes to Yonny's cries. Scod is gone, and has left a letter. It contains an
apology and a map showing Gatesy how he might get to the Underworld and try to retrieve his paramour. Gatesy sets off on his journey to Hades.
Meanwhile, Scod confronts the Twin Wizards. Yon soon joins him in the fight. The Wizards seem close to victory when Yon has an idea. He uses his priestly powers to break the Spear of Knowledge. Using a piece of the Spear each, Yon and Scod defeat the Wizards, restoring the Tree of Knowledge to it's former beauty.
Gatesy arrives in Hades. He must sing a worthy song in order to win back his love:
Heart of a Fighter
He fails. Hades pronounces him Not a Bard. With some encouragement and musical assistance from the Dragon/Woman, he tries again:
I Will Still Play
Success. Gatesy and the Dragon are free to go. As they leave, they meet an Orc!
A car horn sounds. It is time to finish the game:
Bard
The end
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Date: 2010-04-27 02:58 pm (UTC)