Death of Emperor Maurice
The deposed Byzantine Emperor Maurice and his five sons are executed by Phocas' forces on the shore of the Bosporus, forced to watch each other's deaths in a brutal display of power.
Setting
The rocky shore of the Bosporus near Constantinople, with the monastery of St. Autonomus visible in the distance. The water is calm, reflecting the pale morning light, and the shoreline is scattered with small pebbles and patches of coarse sand.
Characters
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TNGF
SELECTED
Emperor Maurice
primary
A man in his late fifties, with a gaunt face marked by deep lines of sorrow and exhaustion. His once-imperial bearing is now slumped, his dark eyes hollow with grief. His short beard and hair, once well-groomed, are now unkempt and streaked with grey.
Phocas
primary
A middle-aged man of average height with a wiry build, his face marked by years of military campaigns. His dark eyes are sharp and calculating, framed by a short, well-groomed beard. His skin is weathered from years in the sun, and his posture exudes authority.
Maurice's Eldest Son
secondary
A young man in his late teens, with a lean but noble bearing. His dark hair is tousled from the rough handling by the soldiers, and his face bears the first traces of a beard. His eyes are sharp and intelligent, reflecting both his royal upbringing and the fire of defiance within him.
Executioner
secondary
A burly, middle-aged soldier with a weathered face, deep-set eyes, and a thick beard streaked with gray. His muscular arms bear old battle scars, and his hands are calloused from years of wielding weapons. His posture is rigid, betraying his military discipline, but there's a slight tension in his shoulders, hinting at the weight of his grim task.
Guard Captain
background
A middle-aged Byzantine soldier with a weathered face, deep-set eyes, and a short, graying beard. His broad shoulders and muscular build suggest years of military service, but his posture carries the weight of unease. His hands are calloused, gripping his spear tightly but without conviction.
Dialog
Emperor Maurice
May the Lord judge you for this day's work, Phocas. My sons are innocent lambs before your slaughter.
Phocas
Innocence is a luxury of the living, Maurice. Today, you learn the price of failure.
Maurice's Eldest Son
Your reign will be as brief as your mercy, Phocas. The blood of my family will drown your ambition.
Phocas
Enough. Let the boy's tongue be stilled before his father's eyes.
Emperor Maurice
Domine, in manus tuas commendo spiritum eorum...
Maurice's Eldest Son
Father, do not look away. Let them see our strength even now.
Phocas
Begin.