Three very different story outlines, set in three very different settings, for a story I'll probably never write.
A - Greece
Invocation
Prologue - The Birth of the World
Prologue - The Birth of Ilya
Spring
[Song 1 - Ilya and the Tower
Song 2 - Ilya Alexandrovich's ecstasy
Song 3 - How Alexander became the Woodwarden
Song 4 - How Ilya got his possessions]
[Song 5 - The death of Alexander and the disappearance of Olga
Song 6 - The mad old man of the woods
Song 7 - The laws of hospitality between Ilya and Silenus
Song 8 - The days roll on; The white hart and the den of lions]
Song 9 - The fight with the lions
Song 10 - The pale stranger; Ilya is enchanted
Song 11 - The Fall of Actaeon
Song 12 - The mysteries of the gods
Song 13 - A great flame consumes Ilya's home
Song 14 - Ilya is rescued by a grey lady
Song 15 - In the house of the grey lady
Song 16 - Gifts from the hearth
Summer
[Song 17 - Ilya chases after his destiny (recalling the earlier season)
Song 18 - Hecate; Pan and the Flight from Death
Song 19 - Ilya is greeted by his host, Dionysus; The bards are introduced
Song 20 - A tour of the grove]
[Song 21 - On the theology of Dionysus; The first Theban Play
Song 22 - Bardic Love; The second Theban Play
Song 23 - The final Theban Play; The journey to the Summer City
Song 24 - The Seven Against Thebes; The Passing of Dionysus]
[Song 25 - The Gates of the Summer City
Song 26 - The House of the Lotus
Song 27 - The One-Eyed Host
Song 28 - Aeolus]
[Song 29 - The Brooding Ilya
Song 30 - The Battle with the Bear
Song 31 - The House of the Witch
Song 32 - Ilya's Escape]
[Song 33 - Ilya Hunts for his Mortal Love; The play is prepared for
Song 34 - Orpheus in the Underworld; Love passes into Shadow
Song 35 - Winter in the Summer (Ilya's deep despair)
Song 36 - The Passing of the Dead]
[Song 37 - The Witch's final blessing
Song 38 - The Last Song of the City
Song 39 - The Chase
Song 40 - The Final Escape]
Intermission - The Beginning of the End (4 Songs)
Autumn
[Song 41 - The Song of Ilya (recalling the earlier season); The Dead Linger On
Song 42 - The Passage of Hades; The Grove of the Oreads
Song 43 - The Flowers are Wilting; The Lively Village Girl
Song 44 - The Village of the Moon; The Great Feast]
[Song 45 - Forbidding Omens; Ilya Begins His Courtship
Song 46 - The Games of Young Men; Ilya's Vast Reward
Song 47 - Ilya's Betrothal; The Young Shepherd Boy
Song 48 - The House of the Gleaner-Witch; Demeter's Lamentation]
[Song 49 - The Fate of the Gods; The Rape of Persephone
Song 50 - Ilya Has His Guide; Ilya's Lamentation
Song 51 - His Final Goodbye to his Pastoral Love; The Last Song of the Village
Song 52 - The Climb Begins; The Brook and the Waterfall]
[Song 53 - The Meadows; The Pulsating Rhythm of Hephaestus's Hammer
Song 54 - The Slippery Rocks; The Piercing Cry from Up Above
Song 55 - The Battle with the Leopard; The Shadow Beyond
Song 56 - The First Snows Begin Their Fall; The Pass in the Mountains]
Winter
[Song 57 - The Blinding Storm; Pan's Appearance
Song 58 - Pan Takes Ilya's Guide Away; At the Door of the Winter Queen's Tower
Song 59 - The Winter Queen's Generosity
Song 60 - Persephone and Ilya Exchange Stories
[Song 61 - The Winter Queen is Enamored with Ilya; Agamemnon
Song 62 - The Winter Queen Begins Bewitching Ilya; The Libation Bearers
Song 63 - The Winter Queen Poisons Ilya; The Kindly Ones
Song 64 - Ilya is Saved by Athena; Prometheus]
[Song 65 - Gifts from the Gods; Ilya Remembers the Dream
Song 66 - Persephone's Agony; Ilya Climbs the Tower]
Song 67 - The War Begins; Ilya Finds Himself in a Vast Maze
Song 68 - The Golden Chamber; Ilya Battles with a Dragon
Song 69 - Ilya Finds no one in the Chamber; His Lamentation
Song 70 - The Blessings of the Gods; Journey to War
Song 71 - Titanomachy; The End of the World
Song 72 - The Breaking of Covenants; Athena's Vengeance
Song 73 - Theomachy; Oblivion
Song 74 - Ilya is Cast Out; The Coming Dawn
Song 75 - The Woman from his Dream; Cupid and Psyche
Song 76 - The Truth Unmasked; Damnation of the Gods
Epilogue - Return to the Waking World
Epilogue - Eternity
Conclusion
B - Russia
I - The Wheel of Fortune
01 On the Island, Grove -- Ilya encounters the goddess Artemis
02 On the Island, Hill -- Artemis leads Ilya up a hill to witness a pagan ritual, the pagan ritual enchants Ilya, the pagan ritual is interrupted by soldiers, Ilya and Artemis run down the hill to escape
03 On the Island, Grove -- Ilya is robbed by a masked figure (Iseult) and loses his cloak and ring and staff
04 Novgorod, Gardens -- Ilya tells all of these to Anya
05 Novgorod, Streets -- Ilya greets his mother Oinona
06 Novgorod, Guildhouse -- Ilya receives the lost cloak from his father Alexander, who is meeting with fellow guildsmen about the election of Yuri as prince
07 Novgorod, Bishop's House -- Ilya encounters the god Apollo while Alexander talks to Turnus, Turnus tells Ilya all about Vladimir and its University
08 Novgorod, Chapel -- Anya is married to Tristan
09 Novgorod, Guildhouse -- Ilya and Piotr only partly enjoy the corresponding wedding feast, Ilya encounters Dionysus and Aphrodite
10 Novgorod, Tristan's House -- Tristan seduces Anya
11 Novgorod, Streets -- Ilya and Piotr say farewell to the family, Ilya wonders about Anya's passage to Moscow
12 The Road, Before the Crossroads from Novgorod -- Tristan proves to be a debaucherer to Anya
--
13 Suzdal, Plaza -- Ioannes preaches on social justice, the tax collector arrives and is universally reviled
14 Suzdal, Barn -- Ioannes and the tax collector negotiate, Ioannes murders the tax collector, Ioannes declares his plans for a revolution
15 Suzdal, Plaza -- Ioannes is joined by a young lady named Vasilisa, some of the local boyars are pulled by their beards and hanged
16 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ivan confesses to Turnus
17 Vladimir, Palace -- Ivan encounters Zeus
18 Vladimir, Plaza -- Ivan greets his marching armies, Ilya and Piotr witness the procession in awe
19 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Ilya and Piotr enjoy the sights and sounds of their new community
20 Vladimir, University Halls -- Piotr acquaints himself with the educational system, and with his new fellows
21 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ilya greets his guardian Turnus
22 Vladimir, University Halls -- Ilya has lewd and energized dialogues with his new fellows, they discuss the studies they are ignoring and Piotr is busy in
23 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Ilya finds his own private pleasures at the carnival, again encountering Dionysus and Venus
--
24 Battlefield, Bloody Heart -- Ares proves to be a savage warrior joining no specific sides, then Ioannes declares victory for the rebels
25 Battlefield, Encampments -- Ioannes announces his plans for further battles, Ioannes commends his heroes including Vasilisa, Ioannes encounters Ares
26 Vladimir, Palace -- Ivan witnesses the return of his defeated troops and declares the punishment for the captured, then he encounters Hephaestus, then he argues with his wife Sophia about contacting his brother and his many affairs with boys, and finally he sends away the tribute to the Tatars
27 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Piotr announces to Ilya his intentions to journey to Moscow as apprentice to one of the teachers, then warns Ilya about his behavior
28 Vladimir, Plaza -- Ilya witnesses the hanging and drawing of the treasonouse captives, then the beheading of Zeus by Hephaestus and Athena's birth
29 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Ilya tries to justify his behavior both to Athena and his fellows
30 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ilya encounters Hestia, then Turnus tells Ilya all about the coming revolution and the monastery they are about to escape to
31 Vladimir, Plaza -- Ivan's presence calms some, but others remain intimidated or unruly
32 Vladimir, University Grounds -- The members of the university who remained meekly pray, but are suddenly attacked by local rioters
33 Vladimir, Plaza -- The gates are suddenly opened, Ioannes and the bulk of his men enter with pomp and grandeur, but some of his men including Ares ransack the city with the rioters, Ivan and his chancellors immediately retreat to the palace
II - The Hanged Man
34 Vladimir, Palace -- Ivan's chancellors begin to panic at the long wait, Ivan has another argument with his wife, then he encounters Athena
35 Vladimir, Plaza -- Ares is shown ravaging Maria, then Ioannes tries to stop Ares, then Ares asks Ioannes about the negotiations
36 Vladimir, Palace -- Ivan is forced to leave the palace barely guarded
37 Vladimir, Plaza -- Ivan witnesses the damage done by Ioannes' people, he reaches the gates and talks to Ioannes' lieutenant Vasilisa, the negotiations run smoothly and he reluctantly agrees with all of the people's demands, when the negotiation party scatters he notes that he understands what Ioannes has truly done
38 Vladimir, Palace -- Ioannes manages to enter the palace, he kills off most of Ivan's chancellors, he mocks Sophia then has her taken away, Ares finds Aphrodite and madly copulates with her, Hephaestus captures the adulterous lovers in a golden net, Ioannes is blinded by an unexpected Hephaestus
39 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Sophia weeps for her husband and ruined life but is calmed by the presence of Maria
40 Vladimir, Palace -- As Ioannes recovers he argues with his advisors about the place of his new plans with the negotiations having been successful, then he announces his intent to establish a revolutionary new government, Vasilisa rejects Ioannes' new plans as not being part of the original deal
41 The Road, Before the Monastery from Vladimir -- Ivan witnesses Hephaestus carrying away Ares and Aphrodite in a golden net, then he receives news on the coming of the Tatars
--
42 Monastery, Hall -- Ilya and Turnus participate in a solemn meal with the monks
43 Monastery, Clearing -- Ilya goes to Ivan's camp as Ivan's attendant for the winter
44 Monastery, Woods -- Ivan takes Ilya out to hunt, as he teaches Ilya how to ride and track and use a bow he and Ilya talk about their encounters with the gods
45 Monastery, Clearing -- Ivan's camp holds a very Dionysian feast, Ivan tries to seduce Ilya but Ilya rebuffs him
46 Monastery, Chapel -- Ilya joins Turnus and the monks at vespers
--
47 Monastery, Woods -- As Ilya practices his learned skills from Ivan he meets and talks with Iseult, when Iseult notices his cloak she beats him up, a badly beaten up Ilya is rescued by a mysterious goddess
48 Woods, Cabin -- The goddess asks Ilya who she is and Ilya tells the tale of Demeter [1], Iseult ends up apologizing for her behavior and explaining herself, Ilya accepts her apology and urges her to continue her tale [2], Iseult in turn asks Ilya about his world (of course it's not recounted here)
49 Monastery, Clearing -- Turnus asks Ivan to aid the search for his nephew
50 Monastery, Woods -- Ivan encounters Demeter
51 Woods, Cabin -- Iseult argues with Ilya about the nature of the goddess and tells the tale of Frigga [3], The goddess returns with Ivan and tells Ilya that he must go, Iseult returns Ilya his ring, Ivan cautiously eyes Iseult's mask
52 Monastery, Chapel -- Turnus greets his returning nephew and tells him about the end of spring, Ivan confesses to Turnus for the last time
--
53 Suzdal, Plaza -- The Tatars raid and destroy Suzdal
54 The Road, Before Vladimir from Suzdal -- The Tatars negotiate with a mysterious courier (from Moscow)
55 Vladimir, Plaza -- Everyone uniformly panics without rioting about the presence of the Tatars
56 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ioannes prays about the coming of the Tatars while wondering about Ivan's stunning failures, then hears the breaking in of the Tatars
57 Vladimir, Plaza -- The Tatars destroy everything
58 Vladimir, Palace -- The remaining soldiers of Ioannes try to defend from the Tatars but are defeated
59 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Sophia tries to defend Maria's virtue but is killed, the Tatar leader is enamored by Maria and so protects her from being raped
60 Vladimir, Chapel -- The remaining deacons scold Ioannes and pray to God for defense, the Tatars break through and kill almost everyone
61 The Road, Before the Monastery from Vladimir -- Maria manages to escape but breaks down outside the city
62 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ioannes is tortured, the mysterious courier arrives and examines the Tatars' work, Ioannes is angered by the Russian's appearance
III - Fortitude
63 The Road, Before Vladimir from the Monastery -- Ivan asks for Efrosinia's help and Efrosinia relates the troubles of her husband in Lithuania, then the troubles of Mikhail with Ivan the youth, then the possible troubles of Yuri with Ivan the elder, and Efrosinia leaves Ivan suspicious and defeated
64 The Road, Before Vladimir from Moscow -- Efrosinia's husband Mikhail the prince of Moscow marches with his army to Vladimir
65 Woods, Cabin -- Demeter (Frigga) receives Dionysus (Baldr) and Persephone (Nanna) and Hermes (Hermod) into her home then releases Iseult, Iseult begins her search for the treasure and is joined by Hermes
66 The Road, Before Novgorod from the Monastery -- Iseult finds the treasure at a nearby cave, Iseult is ambushed by her former lover and his men, then by Ivan and his men, Ivan declares his intentions to reclaim Vladimir with the treasure, the Tatars suddenly pass by and annihilate everyone but Iseult and Ivan, Hermes helps Iseult escape with the treasure
67 Sinai, Caves -- Moses encounters the snake-woman Leviathan rising from a well, and slays her with his sword
68 Sinai, Hall -- Moses encounters the bull-lion Behemoth guarding the feast, and slays him with his staff
69 Sinai, Astronomer's Lab -- Moses encounters the giant eagle Ziz, and slays it with his sling
70 Sinai, Library -- Moses gets lost in a library, then reaches its heart and encounters a vision of Sephorah, then gets burned away along with the chamber
71 Novgorod, Gardens -- Ilya pulls himself out of his imaginarium then encounters Hermes then discovers Iseult, Iseult reports to Ilya in brief her plans to join with the merchant's guild, Ilya tells her about the hospitality of his house
72 Novgorod, Streets -- Ilya and Iseult witness a procession of the Panagia to ward off the Tatars
73 Novgorod, Guildhouse -- Ilya introduces Iseult to Alexander and Oinona, Iseult and Alexander become business partners, Ilya and Oinona discuss Ilya's future and compares it to that of Piotr
--
74 Moscow, Bishop's House -- Turnus tells the bishop about Vladimir, then he bids farewell to Ilya and Isaak
75 Moscow, Chapel -- Isaak introduces Ilya to his art, then Isaak very briefly introduces Ilya to his life from Suzdal to the monastery to the towns
76 Moscow, Hospital -- Piotr continues on his little practice with his master and Ilya
77 Moscow, Streets -- Ilya gathers materials for his grand work, then envisions his second imaginarium:
78 Israel, The Desert -- Jesus enters the desert and prays, the devil tempts him to make bread from stones
79 Israel, The Temple -- The devil tempts him to jump off the temple roof to be saved
80 Israel, The Mountain -- The devil tempts him to bow down to despair and gain the world
81 Israel, The Desert -- Jesus returns to the desert, encounters a good samaritan, and breaks his long fast
82 Moscow, Hospital -- Piotr is frustrated with Ilya's distracted nature
83 Moscow, Chapel -- Ilya gathers advice from Isaak
84 Moscow, Palace -- Efrosinia talks to Ilya about her husband and her son Yuri and her nephew Fyodor and the current shaky situation with Vladimir, then burns her copy of Ilya's latest work
85 Moscow, Chapel -- Ilya laments and again gathers advice from Isaak, Ilya is comforted by the presence of Maria, Isaak tells Ilya about his finding Maria on the road
86 Moscow, Hospital -- Efrosinia is admitted with a uterine hernia and Piotr and Ilya assist in the operation, Ilya takes care of the sick Efrosinia, Efrosinia talks about her children then admits her admiration for Ilya's work
87 Moscow, Hospital -- Piotr decides to return to Vladimir to help with the rebuilding and finish his studies
88 Moscow, Chapel -- The chapel holds a service of the Divine Liturgy, afterwards Isaak also decides to return to Vladimir with Maria to help with the rebuilding, Ilya's anxieties resurface and he somewhat lashes out on Maria, Ilya encounters Hera and is muted
--
89 Monastery, Woods -- Isaak mulls on the nature of Ilya's condition, Ilya and Maria play around like the fools they are, Anya interrupts their game and kisses Ilya cured
90 Monastery, Clearing -- Ilya and Isaak witness a baptism and chrismation, Ilya offers to help out on the monastery for a while again
91 Monastery, Chapel -- Ilya participates in vespers
92 Novgorod, Streets -- Iseult reports on her current successes with Alexander, Ilya reminisces on his lonely childhood
93 Novgorod, Guildhouse -- Ilya returns to his family and offers them his two imaginaria
94 Novgorod, Docks -- Ilya and Iseult take passage to the Island
95 On the Island, Town -- Iseult reminisces on her impoverished childhood, Ilya and Iseult take up room at the local guildhouse
96 On the Island, Grove -- Ilya encounters Poseidon, Ilya witnesses a procession of all the gods, Ilya is given a choice
97 On the Island, Town -- Ilya takes back his staff while giving Iseult another mask
--
98 Earth -- Mary dies, resurrects by the power of the Son, disappears
99 Space of Planets -- The soul of Mary floats away from earth by the hands of Mercury psychopomp, she ignores the tempting entreaties of Venus and Mars, she flirts with the power of Jupiter and the wisdom of Saturn
00 Space of Stars -- The soul of Mary surpasses the moon in its light, she encounters Abraham whose face is as bright as the sun and leaps over him
01 Heaven -- Mary is pulled up by Moses, then has a vision of the Son, then has an epiphany
02 Vladimir, Plaza -- Ivan's son Fyodor is crowned the prince of Vladimir with Mikhail watching in the background, Ilya encounters Hades who tells him about the death of Ivan by the Tatars and the death of Ioannes by the Muscovites, then tells him about impending visitations of the dead and departures of the living
03 Vladimir, Palace -- Fyodor and Mikhail argue about Fyodor's real position in the hierarchy of the princes, Fyodor looks angrily and suspiciously at Mikhail
04 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ilya again talks to Turnus about his life, Ilya offers to work for Isaak while elaborating on his muted condition, Ilya kisses Maria playfully on the cheek and Maria leaves pleasantly shocked, Turnus looks somewhat sick
05 Vladimir, University Halls -- Ilya volunteers to assist Piotr in rebuilding the university, then Piotr details his vision of the tenuous political situation among the three cities
06 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Ilya encounters the new prince and his uncle arguing and blesses them, then he finds Maria and discovers her newfound joy and sanity, then looks bravely on to his creating new works of art and returning to the university
IV - Justice
07 Vladimir, Chapel -- Ilya marries Maria in the fully completed chapel
08 Vladimir, Plaza -- Fyodor remembers the beauty of Maria in their childhood and his subsequent exchange with Yuri between the brothers Mikhail and Ivan, then his days in the campaigns of Ivan in Lithuania contrasting with Yuri's days as prince of Novgorod, then looks on jealously at Ilya and a vision of Yuri
09 Vladimir, Ilya's Home -- Ilya and Maria settle down at their new more private home, but their peace is jaunted by news of Turnus' illness
10 Vladimir, Palace -- Ilya assists Piotr in taking care of the sick Turnus, Fyodor prays for the sick Turnus and has an awkward meeting with Ilya, Turnus blesses Ilya's new life and warns him of its new responsibilities, then warns Fyodor not to turn too much to his dead father
11 Vladimir, Chapel -- A funeral is held for the dead Turnus, Ilya tepidly mourns while Fyodor loudly weeps
--
12 Vladimir, Ilya's Home -- While Maria contemplates and plays on Ilya tries to start on his fourth imaginarium, both realize that their household duties are incomplete and they argue, they settle down wondering what ethical spirit made them marry in the first place, Maria wonders about her pampered life before the revolution and Ilya wonders about his depraved experiences with Dionysus and Aphrodite, they reconcile just as quickly as they exploded and begin to work
13 Vladimir, Palace -- Fyodor encounters the spirit of his father Ivan who tells him about the lost tribute being in the hands of the two masked folk in the carnival, and about how to avenge his father's death against Mikhail
14 Suzdal, Peasant's House -- Vasilisa wonders about the new unsure lot of the peasants, then meets the ghost of Ioannes who tells her to press on her negotiations with Fyodor and perhaps get something better in turn
15 The Road, Before Vladimir from Novgorod -- Iseult hides a large part of the treasure in the same cave she hid it in before
16 Vladimir, Ilya's Home -- Iseult is somewhat disgusted by the condition of Ilya's home, but Ilya and Maria treat her lavishly, Maria giving her quite the feast and Ilya showing her his coming imaginarium, Iseult then reports to Ilya Alexander's plans to establish a branch of the guild in Vladimir
17 Vladimir, Plaza -- Vasilisa presses on the peasants' claim to Fyodor, Fyodor agrees as long as she joins him at a later mission
18 Vladimir, University Grounds -- Ilya and Iseult wear their masks for the carnival, Piotr tells Ilya his plans to establish himself at the more lucrative Moscow, Fyodor finds Ilya and Iseult his targets and has Vasilisa and her escort raid Ilya's home, while he himself talks to and charms Iseult
19 Vladimir, Plaza -- Fyodor follows Iseult out the city, while Vasilisa and her escort follow Ilya to his home
20 Vladimir, Ilya's Home -- Ilya invites Maria to the festivities and Maria continues to wonder about her old life, as they leave Vasilisa and her men raid the house, destroying Ilya's fourth imaginarium accidentally
21 The Road, Before Vladimir from Novgorod -- As Iseult prepares to take a piece of the treasure back to Vladimir, she is unexpectedly attacked by Fyodor and his men, who spare her life and freedom after a tense exchange in exchange for all her half of gold, but Iseult accidentally reveals the presence of the other half in Novgorod
22 The Road, Before the Monastery from Vladimir -- Fyodor assembles the peasants and his mercenaries, declares his agreement with Vasilisa, then prepares to march on Novgorod, planning to use that other half of the treasure to muster troops in attacking Moscow
23 Vladimir, Ilya's Home -- Ilya and Iseult lament their misfortunes, then when Iseult realizes what Fyodor will attempt to do next she races back to Novgorod to save Ilya's family
--
24 The Road, Before Novgorod from the Monastery -- Iseult witnesses Fyodor greet the congregation from Novgorod and is gladdened they do not include Alexander then moves on, Fyodor accuses the congregation of treachery against the people of Vladimir and the Rus', asserting that they plan to join Lithuania and that the title of Grand Prince still refers to Vladimir rather than Moscow, but ironically he asks the congregation to allow him in and enjoy the Divine Liturgy
25 Novgorod, Streets -- Iseult meets Oinona and warns her about Fyodor's passage
26 Novgorod, Chapel -- Fyodor enjoys the Divine Liturgy, then announces the treachery of Novgorod and has all Novgorod's leaders arrested
27 Novgorod, Guildhouse -- Iseult warns the guildemembers but barely manages to save only Alexander
28 Novgorod, Plaza -- Fyodor tensely negotiates with the assembly, then has each member of the assembly beaten to death, while his men raid the city for the treasure
29 Novgorod, Lakeside -- Oinona throws away the rest of the treasure into the lake, then flees with Alexander and Iseult
30 Novgorod, Palace -- Fyodor manages to arrest his cousin Yuri for treachery, then interrogates Yuri about his jealousies, but then laments when he discovers that all the treasure has been spirited away, with most of the loot only serving as payment to the peasants, Fyodor tries negotiating with Vasilisa but she declares that she has no power over the peasants, then the mercenaries who declare that he has no power without gold
31 The Road, Before Novgorod from Moscow -- Mikhail laments the state of affairs with how Fyodor has imitated his father's sickness, Efrosinia worries about the state of her son, the two march with Moscow's armies to Novgorod
32 Novgorod, Plaza -- Mikhail and Efrosinia manage to take Novgorod easily
33 Novgorod, Palace -- Mikhail and Efrosinia find their son Yuri dead by knife, the two find Fyodor who confronts his uncle about the death of his father, Mikhail tells of how his father was an uneven sort and how he treated Fyodor like a son, Fyodor ends up killing himself, Mikhail and Efrosinia lament the loss of the future of their line and the destruction of two great cities, then let Vasilisa go
34 Vladimir, Ilya's Home -- Ilya is glad to be reunited with his father and mother, the whole family then hears about the destruction of Novgorod and the houses of Mikhail and Ivan, Ilya/Maria and Alexander/Oinona begin arguing about reestablishing themselves in Moscow, with Ilya and Maria advocating for peace and temperance, and Alexander and Oinona visualizing certain doom for the princeless Vladimir
35 Vladimir, Plaza -- Iseult encounters Hestia who reminds her about the return of Demeter
36 Monastery, Town -- Alexander and Oinona join Iseult to the monastery to rest, Iseult meets with and disappears with a reappearing Demeter
37 Monastery, Woods -- Ilya and Maria wonder about the road they have chosen in escorting Alexander and Oinona to Piotr but staying to die with Vladimir themselves, Ilya ends up expanding and finally finishing his great work in the process [5], while Maria thanks a passing Anya for her service to Ilya
V - Appendix
[1] -- The tale of Demeter
01 Mount Olympus -- Zeus and Demeter make awkward incestuous love, Kore is born, Kore grows into a beautiful maiden
02 Earth -- Hades watches Kore and her handmaidens gather flowers, he appears and takes Kore down to his realm, Demeter appears and begins wandering the earth in sadness
03 Eleusis, Plaza -- A famine plagues the city, Demeter appears and becomes a guest of the local king Celeus and queen Metanira, she is drawn to the boys of Metanira Triptolemus and Demophon
04 Eleusis, Palace -- Metanira discovers Demeter burning Demophon's mortality, Demeter scolds Metanira for her lack of understanding
05 Eleusis, Plaza -- Demeter shares the secrets of agriculture to the boy Triptolemus
06 Earth -- Hermes petitions Demeter to stop her woe on Zeus' behalf, Demeter challenges Hermes and Zeus to return to her her daughter, Hermes joins Dionysus in his descent to hell
07 Hell -- Dionysus is torn apart by the furies, Hades holds a feast in honor of Hermes, Hermes petitions Hades to return Persephone to the surface as Persephone eats of a pomegranate, Hermes and Persephone and a reformed Dionysus return to the surface
08 Earth -- Demeter rejoices at Persephone's return but laments her eating off the underworld, the seasons are established, Persephone ambiguously looks back at her time in hell with fondness
[2] -- The tale of Iseult
01 On the Island, Grove -- Iseult robs Ilya
02 On the Island, Town -- Iseult's mother dies, she decides to join some relatives in Novgorod
03 At Sea -- Iseult takes up her first lover among the sailors who looks rather like Ilya
04 Novgorod, Docks -- As she disembarks she realizes her lover stole from her but he disappears
05 Novgorod, Aunt's House -- Iseult becomes a sort of Cinderella to her aunt
06 Novgorod, Gardens -- Her aunt eventually introduces her to Tristan with whom she is charmed, as she and Tristan talk she grows somewhat more uncomfortable of him
07 Novgorod, Streets -- She witnesses Tristan's debauchery and is angered, she finds her second lover among the peasants instead, she and the peasant boy escape
08 Suzdal, Peasant's House -- Iseult enjoys her return to freedom but finds it unsatisfying and her new husband unfulfilling
09 Suzdal, Plaza -- The peasant boy joins Ioannes' army, Iseult leaves their home
10 The Road, Before the Monastery from Suzdal -- Iseult finds Anya lamenting her husband lost to syphilis in the middle of the road, Iseult and Anya are captured, Anya ends up becoming their servant while Iseult becomes a member, Iseult takes up a third lover from among their ranks
11 The Road, Before the Monastery from Vladimir -- Her bandit clan steals the tribute to the Tatars
12 The Road, Before the Monastery from Suzdal -- While she is tasked with hiding a good part of the loot Muscovite soldiers attack, Anya their servant makes her escape, Iseult is left by her third lover for dead, she finds refuge with Demeter
[3] -- The tale of Frigga
01 Asgard, Plaza -- Baldr is born, Baldr courts Nanna, Baldr marries Nanna
02 Asgard, Hall -- Nanna reports Baldr's evil dreams to Frigga her mother-in-law
03 Earth -- Frigga gathers promises from all things not to harm Baldr, Loki discovers by his malice her failure to get to the mistletoe plant
04 Asgard, Hall -- The gods play games with Baldr's impenetrability, Loki tricks Hodr Baldr's blind half-brother to throw a spear of mistletoe at Baldr, Baldr dies
05 Asgard, Plaza -- Baldr is cremated, Nanna immolates herself, Frigga weeps for both
06 Hell -- Hermod has a feast with Hel, Hel challenges Hermod that if all things weep for Baldr and Nanna then she would allow them to leave
07 Earth -- Frigga gathers promises from al things to weep for Baldr, a disguised Loki refuses
08 Hell -- Frigga herself visits Hel and Hel laughs at Frigga's misery, the seasons are established
[4] -- The tale of Troy, part one
[5] -- The tale of Troy, part two
C - New Rome
PART ONE: THE WINTER TOWER
ACT ONE
I - THE MAGICIAN
The Thirteenth Year, Summer
ILYA and his guardian TURNUS rescue ANYA from the ocean. They take refuge from the storm in a nearby cave, where they exchange stories: Turnus is merely Ilya's guardian, having been a good friend of Ilya's father ALEXANDER (and a former paramour of Ilya's mother OLGA) before their deaths of plague; while Anya journeyed from Spain to Bordeaux following a message by her mother, KARIN, who had left her to her father, HECTOR, when she was yet a baby. When the three travel along the coast, both in return to the city of Bordeaux and in search of any other survivors, they are attacked by a giant, FERRAGUS, who mortally wounds Ilya. The party is rescued by BACCHUS, the wine god, who returns them to the city after a feast.
II - THE POPESS
The Thirteenth Year, Summer
ILYA, ANYA, and TURNUS live, for a few weeks, a fairly idyllic life, with Ilya practicing for a local hunting competition, Turnus organizing the defenses of the city, and Anya corresponding with a local mercenary company (the company her mother was a member of, before journeying to Spain). Eventually, Anya joins the mercenary company, marching out of the city with them when the city's armies are summoned by TRISTRAM, the crown prince of Aquitaine.
III - THE EMPRESS
The Thirteenth Year, Late Summer, until the Fourteenth Year, Summer
ILYA loses the competition; in dealing with both this loss and the departure of (his developing romance with) Anya, he joins a troupe of mummers, led by the matronly HERMA and her young daughter MARJATTA. Ilya falls in love with Marjatta as they rehearse for a play, Orpheus in the Underworld, but Marjatta rejects him on the winter of that year. On the spring of the next year, they present the play; TURNUS is not pleased, with Ilya not only having neglected his work as a hunter and assistant to the city marshal, but having associated with suspected pagans.
IIII - THE EMPEROR
The Thirteenth Year, Late Summer, until the Fourteenth Year, Summer
ANYA, guided by the mercenary company's leader LYDIA, fight the Saracens besieging the city of Toulouse. Victorious, TRISTRAM leads them to his household for payment, and along the way Anya grows infatuated with him. While Lydia negotiates with the king, EUDUS, Anya discovers Tristram being married to ISOLDE, a Burgundian princess; in a fit of jealousy, she pledges her service to Tristram, disregarding the rules of the company. Lydia furiously kicks her out, and Eudus commends the care of Anya to his marshal, BARCA, who was once in a relationship with Lydia.
V - THE POPE
The Fourteenth Year, Late Summer
While HERMA and her troupe prepare yet another show, TURNUS and ILYA scramble to prepare Bordeaux's defenses. The attacking Saracens are forced to besiege it as they pass, but Turnus recognizes the hopelessness of the situation. Ilya receives a vision from MINERVA, the goddess of war, and just as the Saracens break through the gates, Ilya follows this vision to lead much of the citizens out through a secret tunnel; Turnus dies keeping the Saracens at bay. The court of Aquitaine receives this news, and musters their troops to fight; along the way, TRISTRAM confronts ANYA on her infatuation with him. As the army crosses the River Garonne, they are attacked by the Saracens and utterly destroyed, with Tristram dying in the battle. Anya manages to save BARCA, and after the battle carries Tristram's body back to court. There, a funeral is held, then King EUDUS leads his remaining men to France, in the hopes that France's lord would help him against the Saracens, while ISOLDE returns to her home country of Burgundy.
ACT TWO
VI - THE LOVERS
The Fourteenth Year, Autumn
ILYA leads the people of Bordeaux to refuge, assuming the role of steward to his aunt EFROSINIA and his infant cousin CASSIUS THE YOUNGER. With the master gone, they are barred out of the house of Efrosinia's noble brother, CASSIUS THE ELDER, and are forced to go further east, to Burgundy. Before reaching Burgundy's palace, HERMA and her troupe leave the party; at the palace, the lady ISOLDE treats with the remaining, especially with Ilya. Sharing griefs, Ilya and Isolde become lovers, with Isolde warning Ilya not to enter the nearby wood. But Ilya cannot resist the call to hunt, and in the wood he encounters Herma's troupe, summoning through yet another show the goddess CERES, who emboldens Ilya to begin journeying up the Winter Tower.
VII - THE CHARIOT
The Fourteenth Year, Autumn
At the camp outside the city of Tours, ANYA and BARCA guard their lords, King EUDUS and his remaining son HUNALD, as they discuss strategies with the lords of France, the lord mayor CAROLUS and his sons, CARLOMAN, PEPIN, and GRIFO. That morning, the Saracens, led personally by their lord ABDULRAHMAN, attack, but the experienced lines of Carolus' army hold. The Aquitainian army then attack the Saracen camp, and the Saracens fall into a panicked retreat. Abdulrahman is accidentally trapped by his own men, and Anya manages to kill him. After the battle, King Eudus is forced to recognize Lord Carolus' sovereignty, Anya is knighted under Pepin's banner, and Lord Carolus takes Pepin to the court of Burgundy.
VIII - JUSTICE
The Fourteenth Year, Winter
Climbing the mountains of Burgundy, ILYA meets MERCURY, the psychopomp, who becomes his guide to the summit. At the summit, Mercury leaves him, and he finds the entrance to the Winter Tower, where he is welcomed by its lady, PROSERPINA. Leaving the queen of the underworld behind, he continues climbing up the winter tower, encountering a monstrous mermaid (LEVIATHAN), a horned tiger (BEHEMOTH), a gigantic bird (ZIZ), and a red-haired lady (BABALON), before being consumed by fire.
VIIII - THE HERMIT
The Fourteenth Year, Late Winter
HERMA leads the mummers on a performance of The Frogs as ISOLDE entertains her new guests, Lord CAROLUS, PEPIN, and their knights, including ANYA. After the show, Herma leads Anya to the woods, introducing her to VESTA. Vesta emboldens Anya to also journey up the winter tower, this time to rescue ILYA, which she does.
ACT THREE
X - THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
The Fourteenth Year, Late Winter
ILYA and ANYA return to the court of Burgundy. Lord CAROLUS declares Burgundy to be the dominion of his son, PEPIN, under no objections by ISOLDE. After petitioning Pepin to supply his people on their return to Bordeaux, Ilya invites Isolde to join them, which she accepts. On learning about the Saracens' surrender, Lord Carolus commands his son redirect the army northward, against the pagans of Frisia.
XI - FORTITUDE
The Fourteenth Year, Spring, until the Fifteenth Year, Spring
PEPIN trains his knights in the art of chivalry, practicing on renegade communities of pagans. ANYA relents to his wooing only when he breaks off his affair with MARJATTA. On reaching the city of Brygge, the mummer troupe leaves the army, and Anya, at the behest of the troupe leader HERMA, follows them, witnessing another pagan ritual. The army continues into the marshland, where Pepin's knights are forced to give up their horses. BUBO, the duke of Frisia, ambushes them, yet Pepin still claims victory. The army then follows Bubo's trail to the pagan capital, which they ravage.
Pepin and Anya return to Paris, parading the defeated duke. Lord CAROLUS declares peace for France, dismissing the army after ten straight years of service. When Anya asks to winter in Pepin's court, she is dismissed, with Pepin fearing the jealousy of his wife; instead, she joins GRIFO, who asks for escort to Aquitaine. There, EUDUS is forced to retire to a monastery, and the crown is passed on to HUNALD, with whom Grifo and Anya winter. At spring, Anya leaves court and returns to the mercenary company. LYDIA forgives her, and she leads the company through various raids.
XII - THE HANGED MAN
The Fourteenth Year, Summer, until the Fifteenth Year, Spring
As ILYA leads the efforts to rebuild, IOANNES, a representative of the people, and ISOLDE plot a revolt against EFROSINIA. The revolt is sparked, and PIERRE, Efrosinia's marshal, leads her soldiers against the city, but Ilya manages an effective enough defense; Ioannes wounds Pierre, while Isolde, on imprisoning Efrosinia, murders CASSIUS THE YOUNGER. Afterwards, Ilya and Isolde winter outside of Bordeaux, at his family's old hunting lodge, where they entertain APOLLO, the god of music, and DIANA, the goddess of the hunt. Here, Ilya tells Isolde of how TURNUS, his former guardian, lost the hunting contest for the hand of OLGA, Ilya's mother, to his good friend ALEXANDER, Ilya's father, and how he came to be Ilya's guardian after the other two died of plague.
At spring, they receive a summons from HUNALD. Isolde refuses to join, despising the new king, so Ilya takes Ioannes with him to court. There, they participate in two contests held in the king's honor; Ilya wins the hunting contest, while Ioannes is wounded by Pierre, now sponsored by CASSIUS THE ELDER, who is revealed to be have been the king's mentor. Ilya then introduces himself as Bordeaux's new lord, promising friendship with Cassius and paying homage to the king.
PART TWO: NOVA ROMA
ACT ONE
XIII - THE UNNAMED ONE
The Eighteenth Year, Spring, until the Nineteenth Year, Summer
MAURONTUS, the lord of Provence, has surrendered his cities to ABDULRAHMAN THE YOUNGER, and now the returning Saracens move against France. The three sons of Lord CAROLUS make their move: CARLOMAN heads to Lombardy to summon France's allies, PEPIN sends his cavaliers to attack the Saracens at Nimes, and GRIFO leads King HUNALD to take the forts still barely occupied by the Saracens. ILYA leaves IOANNES and ISOLDE to take care of Bordeaux, as he follows King Hunald's summons. ANYA and LYDIA lead the mercenary company to join Pepin, and altogether they capture Nimes, destroying its fortifications. Carloman and King LIUTPRAND, the leader of the Lombards, lead a direct assault against Arles, taking it through sheer force. Lord Carolus now assembles everyone around Avignon, whose fortifications they find nigh impenetrable. Ilya offers to take the city from the inside, leading a number of his men as spies. Once Ilya opens the gates, the combined forces of France, Aquitaine, and Lombardy destroy the city, driving Maurontus out into the alps. For this, Ilya is well recognized, but the affair reopens an old wound.
XIIII - TEMPERANCE
The Nineteenth Year, Summer, until the Nineteenth Year, Late Summer
LIUTPRAND is forced by domestic troubles to withdraw his men; PEPIN, unsure about his funds, dismisses the mercenary company, although LYDIA offers her personal service to ANYA. The rest of the grand army march upon Narbonne, the center of Saracen presence in the region. CARLOMAN and GRIFO find common ground in encouraging their father, Lord CAROLUS, into besieging Narbonne, while Pepin remains cautious and weary. Suddenly, reports arrive that the Saracens have assembled another large army from Spain, intent on intercepting the combined French and Aquitainian force before they reach Narbonne. Pepin offers to ambush them with his cavaliers, and he and Anya intercept the Saracens crossing the River Berre; though victorious, Pepin is wounded in the battle. As the grand army prepares to surround Narbonne, HUNALD also pulls out his men. The besieging forces win another victory against the Saracens, this time facing soldiers from the Narbonne garrison, but Lord Carolus, against his soldiers' opinion, chooses to offer terms. ABDULRAHMAN THE YOUNGER readily accepts, and the French army enters Narbonne peacefully.
ACT TWO
XV - THE DEVIL
The Nineteenth Year, Late Summer
LYDIA and ANYA elect to winter in Narbonne, where Lydia tells of how Anya's mother KARIN became the hero of Narbonne as it fell to the Saracens. A mutilated woman, REBEKAH, interrupts, telling of how Karin's return to France was to try to spark the fight against the Saracens, but of Lydia's company, only Rebekah answered, while of the noblemen, not a single soul, with CASSIUS THE ELDER even imprisoning and abusing the two women. Anya learns that Karin died imprisoned, and vows vengeance.
XVI - THE HOUSE GOD
The Nineteenth Year, Late Summer
ILYA returns to an emergency: with the garrison of Bordeaux much decreased by war, EFROSINIA managed to escape, and it is reported that she had sought refuge in the house of her brother, CASSIUS THE ELDER. Ilya, ISOLDE, and IOANNES prepare the defenses of the city; Cassius, Efrosinia, and PIERRE attack, and though at first they are repelled, Isolde is gravely wounded. Ilya sends out Ioannes to seek aid.
XVII - THE STAR
The Nineteenth Year, Autumn
IOANNES finds ANYA arguing with LYDIA; when Ioannes explains his predicament to both, Lydia refuses, fearing CASSIUS THE ELDER. Anya and Ioannes are both forced to search for different allies; Anya journeys to Aquitaine and her old master BARCA, while Ioannes journeys to Paris. Barca also refuses, knowing Cassius to be his new master's close ally. PEPIN, however, finds himself invested, especially with the involvement of Ilya and Anya, and with Cassius being an especially powerful ally. He sends out a small force of his cavaliers, whom Anya joins near Lydia's stronghold. Lydia is finally convinced to join the battle, and just as Cassius is about to break through Bordeaux's defenses, Anya's soldiers plow through the battlefield, killing PIERRE, wounding EFROSINIA, and capturing Cassius.
XVIII - THE MOON
The Nineteenth Year, Autumn
ILYA and ANYA debate on what to do with CASSIUS THE ELDER, with Ilya preferring ransom and Anya preferring execution. Cassius reasons with Ilya, claiming his significance to the court and, more importantly, the possibility of Anya and her cavaliers being traitors. Suddenly, the cavaliers attack, murdering Cassius and restraining everyone else, including Anya; when IOANNES, just outside of the hall, tries to escape, LYDIA maims him. PEPIN arrives, trying to make Ilya pledge fealty to him. Ilya, in his loyalty to Aquitaine, refuses, instead presenting an alternative: Ioannes, revealed to be his distant cousin, is free to claim lordship over Bordeaux if Ilya excuses himself, Ioannes having made no oaths to Aquitaine. Pepin agrees, Ilya abdicates, ISOLDE and EFROSINIA are both locked up in monasteries, Ioannes is honored as Bordeaux's new lord, and Anya is forced to marry Ioannes.
ACT THREE
XVIIII - THE SUN
The Nineteenth Year, Winter, until the Twentieth Year, Winter
ILYA sails with ISAAC, a theologian, from Rome to Constantinople. In Constantinope, the two stay at a monastery as guests. At Christmas, Isaac invites Ilya to his family's feast. Ilya eventually offers to stay with ISMAEL, the head of the family. At spring, he forms an attachment with MARIA, Ismael's youngest daughter, through his songs. At summer, Ismael holds a hunting contest for the position of his forest's warden; Ilya wins the contest, gaining a permanent place in Ismael's household. At autumn, Ilya and Maria get married, their bliss continuing through winter and beyond.
XX - JUDGMENT
The Nineteenth Year, Spring, until the Twentieth Year, Winter
The invitation ANYA sent to her father, HECTOR, returns with tragedy: her father's ship was taken by the sea. She builds a cenotaph to her father next to the cenotaph of her mother, KARIN, then marches her armies upon the stronghold of LYDIA, again to call for aid. Their combined forces reach Toulouse, where they destroy Aquitaine's assembled army; here, Anya slays in a duel BARCA. Her army then continues on to the Aquitainian court, now bolstered by the forces of PEPIN and CARLOMAN, where they force HUNALD into a monastery, with Hunald's young son WAIFER vowing vengeance. Pepin then divides Aquitaine between three of his vassals (including Anya), and Anya visits the tomb of TRISTRAM. After dispersing the armies, Anya returns to IOANNES, at long last offering to produce with him a child.