Death of Duncan I
King Duncan I of Scotland is mortally wounded in battle against Macbeth's forces near Elgin. The battlefield is chaotic, with Duncan's royal guard desperately trying to protect him as Macbeth's warrio
Setting
A rugged battlefield near Elgin, surrounded by rolling hills and sparse woodland. The ground is uneven, littered with rocks and patches of heather. The remnants of a small fortification can be seen in the distance, its wooden palisades partially burned.
Characters
Duncan I
primary
A middle-aged man of noble bearing, with a strong but now faltering frame. His once-regal posture is slumped from exhaustion and wounds. His face is lined with the cares of kingship, framed by a graying beard and shoulder-length brown hair. His piercing blue eyes, though clouded with pain, still hold authority.
Macbeth
primary
A formidable warrior in his mid-thirties, Macbeth stands tall with a muscular build honed by years of battle. His face is weathered, with sharp, angular features and piercing grey eyes that seem to see through the chaos of the battlefield. His dark brown hair is tied back with a leather thong, revealing a deep scar running from his temple to his jawline—a testament to past conflicts.
Royal Guard
secondary
A burly man in his late 30s, with a thick beard streaked with gray and a scar running from his left eyebrow to his cheekbone. His muscular frame is honed from years of combat training, and his hands are calloused from gripping his sword.
Moray Warrior
secondary
A burly, battle-hardened man in his mid-30s with a thick, unkempt beard streaked with dirt and blood. His face is weathered, with deep-set hazel eyes that gleam with a mix of determination and exhaustion. His muscular arms bear the scars of past conflicts, and his knuckles are raw from gripping his weapon.
Scottish Soldier
background
A middle-aged warrior with a rugged, weathered face, his beard streaked with grey. His muscular frame bears the marks of battle, with fresh wounds bleeding through his torn garments. His left leg drags uselessly behind him as he crawls, the limb badly injured from a sword strike.
Dialog
Duncan I
Mac Bethad... We ken thy blade thirsts for royal blood this day. Yet mercy... mercy would serve thee better.
Macbeth
Mercy? The crown is won by steel, not soft words. Finish this.
Moray Warrior
Aye, my lord. 'Tis done.
Duncan I
Then... take thy prize. But mark... Scotland remembers her kings.
Macbeth
Let her remember this day. The old stag falls. The wolf rises.
Moray Warrior
Shall we... take the head, my lord?
Macbeth
Nay. Let the crows know a king lies here. That is warning enough.