tales around the world
Written by @Outbound & @goofyyukyuk
Tales Around the World: A Stunt Spectacular is located along the docks of the main Ottoman City in Adventure Atoll. A stage has been set up, to host the marvelous magical misdirections of the famous Madame Scarleé and her Merry Band.
This adventurous show will tell an original story set within the original world of Adventure Atoll. Sit back and relax (unless you’re in the splash zone, then tense) and watch the insanity unfold!
Between the stage and guest seating is a body of water connecting to the lake surrounding the island. To guests’ left is a collection of floating driftwood, nearer the stage than the seating. The logs are held in place by chain underwater, so that the stuntmen may jump to and from the logs without trouble.
To guests’ right is a collection of wooden pillars, as if there was wooden jetty before it molded away. Stuntmen jump along these beams in an epic fight later on in the show.
Last, there is a stray boat in the middle of the water. This is first for decoration, but don't worry: it will play a key role later in the show.
preshow
As guests fill up the benches, a series of reports proudly discuss the current state of Adventure Atoll.
The Gem Dragon sleeps! Explorers have unearthed the cave believed to be home to the mythical Gem Dragon. The local Maori claim if awoken and angry, the Dragon would destroy the island as we know it. How could it get angry? We don't know. A good thing it's still hibernating.
Atlantis discovered! For many years the citizens of Lemuria have toiled in the pursuit of the Lost City of Atlantis, knowing it was nearby but never finding its most ancient secrets. Now, you too can board a nautical submarine and journey into Atlantis, the Lost City, just a few miles beyond the island! See merchants for more details.
Fortune! Gold! Glory! The Plaza of Fortune has now been opened! A testament to Lemuria’s riches. Come today! See merchants for more details.
The wildlife of Lemuria has been known for this exotic DANGER! And today, you can see them firsthand. The Taongo River Journey is brought to by the same company that brought you the Jungle Cruise in British Africa. But don’t worry. Our Skippers are far more qualified for the job. (*Wilhelm Scream*)
The sagas of Jules Verne arrive in Lemuria. In Search of the Castaways. The Mysterious Island. The Castaways of the Flag. Master of the World. These stories come in an interactive experience, brought to you by the Z*Z*Z*Z*Z* family. Start your journey today!
Da-dada-daaaa! BREAKING NEWS! The Jewels of Lemuria have been stolen! The crown of the island, gone in the swift of night. The Lemurian Investigation Bureau, captained by the brilliant Captain Topal, will not rest until the jewels are returned. If you have noticed any suspicious activity from anyone on the island, please file a report at your nearest Investigation Officer. Those crooks made a mistake crossing the brilliant Captain Topal!
An Old Maori Woman had this to say: "In my day, we would tell stories of the Island Spirits. They would guard the island, and keep in mind they were never bad. They protected the island from imbalance. It was said the Jewels were how they did it. Well, when the Jewels were taken by the Ottomans, that was when everything started to feel off. So maybe, just maybe, those Spirits got their Jewels back."
The Lemurian Investigation Bureau has no comment on the above statement, and would highly encourage everyone with any knowledge to report immediately. Such spiritual superstitions are clearly false: the Jewels must be returned at all costs!
CHARACTERS
Tales Around the World consists of many colorful characters. Here they are.
Madame / Monsieur Scarleé
The head of the show, Madame (or Monsieur) Scarleé is famous for her/his bright red jacket. Scarleé has spent years traveling the world, embarking on great adventures, always with the intention of helping the locals… though Scarleé is far from humble. Throughout the show, Scarleé loudly boasts of their accomplishments and overexaggerates certain circumstances to appeal to the “adventure” of the show. Nevertheless, Scarleé is the main character, and by the end, you will see why they so embody the spirit of adventure.
Sayid / Saida
Scarleé's trusty assistant. Though they are both good friends, it soon becomes apparent Sayid is not skilled on stage (this is their first show). Sayid’s dry humor keeps clashing with Scarleé's upbeat pacing, and Sayid’s complete failure to show any emotion whenever “cast” in a role creates many opportunities for humor. Plus they take everything way too far. Still, very loyal friend.
Captain Topal
Despite his insistence of everyone calling him “The Brilliant Captain Topal”, (he refuses to answer to anything else) Topal is a complete fool. The head of the Lemurian Investigation Bureau, Topal crashes the stunt show for an elaborate search of the crowd for the “crook” who stole the Jewels of Lemuria. It immediately becomes obvious that Scarleé and Sayid stole the Jewels, but Topal doesn’t even consider them a suspect. Eventually, Topal does catch on, becoming the antagonist of the story. His total lack of imagination and desire for adventure contrasts with the rest of the main cast.
Konstantin
An infamous Russian brawler, nicknamed “The Strongest Man in the World”. He ruled his local village in Siberia through fear, known throughout the land until Madame Scarleé arrived and bested him. Afterward, Konstantin realized though he may be the strongest, those with allies could still best him… so he had a change of heart, and in a surprising turn of events became friends with Scarleé!
Senorita / Senor Castille
Master of the sword, Castile travels across Latin America with a bandito mask and silver sword. When confronted by Scarleé, a great sword fight is had, ending with Scarleé's victory. Scarleé and Castile complement each other’s abilities and swiftly become friends.
Tanaka and the ninjas four
A group of talented Japanese Ninjas, who like Konstantin and Castille before, used their amazing acrobatics to wreak havoc on the land. They would hide in the forest and pounce upon traveling merchants, stealing their goods before letting them go to spread rumors and fear. They were the hardest fight for Scarleé, but sure enough, Scarleé prevailed, and sure enough, they soon became friends.
the plot
Sayid walks onto the set with a broom, humming the “it’s a small world” theme while remaining oblivious to the crowd. When he finally notices us, he jumps in shock, thinking he had another fifteen minutes to prepare. Alas, the boxes will have to do.
Sayid runs off stage and comes back with a bowtie: much better. He tells guests of the many marvelous encounters of the fabulous, world-traveling Madame Scarleé: from the tundras of Russia to the mountains of Japan, to the jungles of Brazil and the lost continent Lemuria.
And with a splash of color mist, Madame Scarleé appears out of thin air! Que the enormous applause. Scarleé quickly hypes the crowd, shouting “are you ready”’s and “I can’t hear you!”s.
But that momentum suddenly stops with a boom!, as Captain Topal and the Investigation Bureau crash the event. They explain in light of the recent theft of the Lemurian Jewels, they must investigate the crowd for any “suspicious activity”. Three volunteers are picked from the crowd and Topal dryly interviews them while Scarleé pokes fun.
After the volunteers finish, Scarleé asks if they may continue on with the show. Topal agrees but only if he can stay and watch… Sayid doesn’t like this, but Scarleé has no choice.
TALE ONE: A RUSSIAN BAR BRAWL
Scarleé will tell three tales around the world, the first set of which is set a shady Russian bar. Scarleé and Sayid had been tracing the so-called “Strongest Man in the World”, Konstantin the Constant. Here, he would terrorize the local villagers into submission. But if we could be beaten, the locals would see he is not as invincible as he first appears...
A few extras walk onto the set, silently drinking and having a good time while Scarleé sets the scene. Then comes Konstantin, a giant hulking brute. He demands a drink for free, to which the bartender fearfully provides two.
Scarleé steps apart from the crowd. She denounces Konstantin’s supposed prowess and challenges him to a brawl, every man for himself (though no one else joins in, thinking it's suicide). You see, since Konstantin is so imposing, odds are he’s never been challenged. So he might have no fighting skills at all!
Ok, that was wrong now Konstantin is beating up Scarleé. Good thing she had allies… just before she’s finished, the Frenchmen tells Konstantin that although he may be stronger, he doesn’t have any backup.
AND THEN SAYID COMES CRASHIN’ THROUGH THE WALL IN A GIANT SEMITRUCK!!!!
“Wait Sayid no semi-trucks haven’t been invented yet... and wait is that a FLAMETHROWER?!? You were riding a horse! I know we’re supposed to be exaggerating but this is going too far.”
“Oh... sorry Madame!”
“No no it’s ok! I like the sudden enthusiasm!”
Anyways back to the show. Sayid arrives and says they will have to fight both of them at once. Konstantin laughs: finally, this will be somewhat of a challenge. But as the bar brawler soon discovers, one strongman is no match for two, even if they have considerably less strength. Through fantastic coordination, Scarleé distracts Konstantin just enough for Sayid to jump on him behind and hit him unconscious with a bottle.
Looking around, it seems the set has set on fire in the middle of their brawl. No worries. When Konstantin wakes up, he isn’t even angry, he is humbled. No one has even beaten him before. He asks where he can learn this “teamwork” thing.
TALE TWO: THE BRAZILIAN SWORD TANGO
Captain Topal finds it extremely doubtful that those two stuntmen could have possibly taken down the strongest man in the world, but Scarleé insists: beyond the semi-truck, everything that happened was true.
This leads to the second tale from around the world, set in a quaint Brazilian village. This was the last known siting of the infamous bandito Senorita Castille, master of the “silver sword”. She is famous across Latin America for her prowess in the sword, using it for nefarious means.
Scarleé challenges her to a one-to-one swordfight, to which she arrogantly accepts. So begins an elaborately choregarphed sword duel.
FIRE IGNITES THE STAGE!!!!
“Wait wait wait wait madame! This is not what really happened!”
“Yes Sayid but we can exaggerate --”
“But what about last time?”
“Sayid, there’s a difference between a semi-truck crashing down a wall and a small fire. It’s for effect.”
“But Madame! Lighters haven’t been invented yet”
“Ah jeez --”
Ok, so no fire but we do have the duel. The fight is choreographed to Brazilian music, almost as if Scarleé and Castille are tango dancing while fighting. This culminates with Castille pushing Scarleé off the ledge, where she narrowly maintains balance aboard some floating driftwood. Castille jumps onto the same driftwood, and then have an epic battle as the waves rock the ground and back forth.
Eventually, Castille follows the musical beat… but Scarleé does not. Instead, she goes for the strike and wins the match. Scarleé explains to Castille she let herself become distracted with what wasn’t the focus, and as a result, lost. Castille doesn’t care though. She’s more impressed someone could keep up with her swording-fighting-skills to begin with, and asks for a rematch some other time.
TALE THREE: THE JAPANESE NINJA DANCE
Once again, Captain Topal expresses a firm belief that this is simply not possible. If it was, she would be the most amazing person in the world! She could do anything! Even steal the jewels of Lemuria for heaven’s sake. Scarleé tenses, but Topal is only joking.
Madame Scarleé transitions to the third and final tale around the world: the mountains of Japan. There were rumors of a mysterious bandit group called The Ninjas Four: an all-female, elite force specialized in acrobatic combat. Scarleé and Sayid spent many days and nights searching the islands, but finally, they came upon them in a deserted cherry blossom forest.
Their leader is Tanaka. Scarleé took on the three others while Sayid went one-to-one against Tanaka… and was immediately subdued. Oh well. Scarleé jumps onto the wooden beams… and so does the Ninja. An even more impressive stunt goes down, with the actors somehow not losing their balance while fighting atop narrow beams. Scarleé knocks one down there, leaving just three more back on even ground.
Scarleé seems defeated when Sayid suggests misdirection. This gives her a brilliant idea. Using her talents as a “magician” (within the lore, she doesn’t actually have magical powers, she’s just good at misdirecting people like magicans in real life) she is able to seemingly vanish and reappear around the Ninja. The Ninja soon begin fighting each other as Scarleé outmaneuvers them.
Meanwhile, Sayid escapes and must climb up a series of wooden supports while the fourth Ninja, who fell into the water, gets back up and gives chase. Sayid throws junk down to knock the Ninja off the ladder. Once successful, Sayid finds what he is looking for: a box of firecrackers. Launching them, explosions rocket the surroundings, to the shock of the Ninja but not Scarleé, who takes advantage of the situation and subdues them all.
Scarleé and Sayid let the audience fill in what happened from there -- they were more impressed than angry and ended up as good friends.
It is just after this final story that Topal finally makes the connection. Stronger than Konstantin. Quicker than Castille. Nimbler than Tanaka and the Ninjas Four. Madame Scarleé was the one to steal the jewels!
Scarleé and Sayid admit it… when a loud voice booms overheard.
It declares itself a Spirit of the Island, a guardian figure that warned long ago to never take more that what was needed. To that the settlers have completely ignored. Their thievery of the island far surpasses anything these two ever did.
The Spirit contacted them, asking if they would help recover the Jewel to the Gem Dragon before the island itself tore apart. If the Jewel, a precious item to said slumbering beast, was kept away any longer, this very settlement would risk destruction upon its awakening. And so the Spirits recruited Scarleé.
A video plays behind. Learning of their mission, Scarleé and Sayid recruit Konstantin from Russia, Castille from Brazil, and Tanaka from Japan to help them on their quest. The Ninjas Four infiltrate the palace. Konstantin rips open the vault with his bare hands. Castille and Scarleé take down the entire guard with just two swords. By remaining focused and using their separate strengths collaboratively, they are able to do what was thought impossible.
Topal notes this is an interesting development, but nevertheless is irrelevant to the bigger picture. He orders his officers to arrest Madame Scarleé and Sayid, both "liars and criminals"… when the dormant boat, in the middle of the water for the entire show, springs alive.
Aboard is a friendly Konstantin, Castille, and Tanaka. Those weren’t actors from before, they were really here! They quickly wreak havoc on the swarms of Police Officers, forcing Topal to retreat to higher ground.
This isn’t a stunt show anymore, it’s the real deal. Scarleé and Sayid swing aboard a giant rope into the water and swim to safety. Meanwhile, more boats fly in from the left, ferrying even more Officers. They’re now shooting, forcing our heroes to duck under barrels for cover.
Explosions are everywhere at this point. Sayid takes to the boat away through the pipe while Scarleé heads back on land. But it appears a lost cause: no matter how much Scarleé, Konstantin, Castille, and Tanaka fire back with their firearms, the Officers are surrounding them.
And then for the grand finale… Sayid comes flying in by boat!
Backstage is a ramp that can be sailed up. When the queue is given, the wall connecting backstage to the stage is opened, allowing the boat to pass up the ramp and jump diagonally across the main stage and into the central aqueduct. All the while fire suddenly shoots out of the stage! Truly epic, and this time no exaggeration.
Everyone gets aboard and sails away. Topal orders a chase, and they get aboard their boas… when another great scene appears. A gigantic fountain, spewing from the center of the waterways blocks Topal from following. Mist projections show a mysterious face, revealing itself as the voice heard earlier... the Spirit of the Island.
“The Spirits of the Island have become angry. Stop now, Captain Topal, while you still have the chance. Learn from these brave characters -- a team composing of figures across the world -- and do not attempt to get back the jewels. That is all.”
At this, Topal shouts in fear, realizing the Spirits are real, and quickly takes the ship’s helm shouting “AAHAHHA! Get me out of here! Quickly! Ghosts! Ghosts I tell you! Must leave this horrible island!!!” all the while a silly jingle plays.
And with that, the simple words “THE END” appear on stage, announcing the conclusion of Tales Around the World: A Stunt Spectacular. Providing stories from Russia, Brazil, Japan, and, of just recently, Adventure Atoll.