Death of King Æthelberht of Kent
King Æthelberht of Kent lies in state in the royal hall, his death creating a power vacuum and religious tension between the Christian priests led by Bishop Lawrence and the pagan nobles represented b
Setting
The royal hall in Canterbury, Kent, a large wooden structure with a thatched roof, dimly lit by flickering torches. The hall is adorned with simple tapestries and animal skins, reflecting the wealth and status of King Æthelberht. The air is thick with the scent of burning wood and damp earth.
Characters
King Æthelberht of Kent
primary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 50s with a weathered face marked by deep lines of age and leadership. His once-dark hair is streaked with silver, and his beard is neatly trimmed. His hands, resting on his chest, bear the callouses of a warrior.
Bishop Lawrence
primary
A tall, gaunt man in his late fifties with a deeply lined face and piercing gray eyes. His thinning gray hair is tonsured in the Roman fashion, and his hands bear the calluses of frequent prayer.
Ealdorman Wulfric
secondary
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 40s with a weathered face, deep-set gray eyes, and a thick, graying beard. His nose bears the crooked mark of an old break, and his hands are calloused from years of wielding a sword.
Queen Bertha
secondary
A middle-aged Frankish queen with pale, grief-stricken features. Her once-vibrant blue eyes are now dull with sorrow, and her golden hair is partially covered by a veil. She stands with a regal but weary posture, her hands clasped tightly together.
Housecarl
background
A burly, middle-aged warrior with a weathered face, a thick beard streaked with gray, and deep-set, watchful eyes. His muscular frame is honed by years of combat, and a jagged scar runs from his left temple to his jaw.
Dialog
Bishop Lawrence
Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei...
Ealdorman Wulfric
These foreign rites freeze my blood like a north wind. The king should cross the whale-road with proper honor - not this strange mumbling over his bones.
Bishop Lawrence
Noble Wulfric, the king embraced Christ's mercy in life - shall we deny him Heaven's peace in death? His soul now rests with saints, not shadow-walkers.
Ealdorman Wulfric
Your words cut both ways, bishop. Fifty winters we served a king who kept the old ways - now you'd have him turn his back on Woden in his final journey?
Bishop Lawrence
The king's baptismal vow outshines all earthly oaths. Would you have him break faith with the One who judges quick and dead?